Mashua is a member of the nasturtium family and is an herbaceous erect or prostrate climbing annual or perennial plant growing 0.5–2 m high, with slender, cylindrical, aerial, green or reddish-green stems that can twine or climb over other plants by tactile petioles. Tubers are produced on axillary stolons that extend to form terminal, elongate, conical or ellipsoid tubers 5–15 cm long and 3–6 cm wide at the distal end, with waxy surface, which are slightly roughened from enlarge scale leaves, generally deeply furrowed, each furrow containing a bud (‘eye) from which it produces aerial stem and adventitious roots. This unique and distinctive vegetable is found used by many people around the world.
| Name | Mashua |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tropaeolum tuberosum |
| Native | Andes region, particularly in Peru and Bolivia |
| Common/English Name | Anu, Anyu, Bulbous Nasturtium, Capucine, Edible Nasturtium, Mashua, Patagonian Capucine, Peruvian Capucine, Peruvian Nasturtium, Tuber Nasturtium, Tuberous Nasturtium, Tuberous Rooted Nasturtium |
| Name in Other Languages | Polish : Nasturcja Bulwiasta Argentina : Sisaño ( Aymara ) Ecuador : Mafua Swedish : Knölkrasse Brazil : Capuchinha-Tuberosa German : Knollige Kapuzinerkresse Dutch : Knof Italian : Nasturzio Tuberosa Chinese : Kuai Jing Lzan Hua Spanish : Añu Japanese : Toropaeorumu Chuuberosumu Danish : Anu Boliva : Isau French : Capucine Tubéreuse Columbia : Pane ( Guambiano ) Peru : Añu Czech : Lichořeřišnice Hlíznatá Eastonian : Mugul-Mungalill |
| Plant Growth Habit | Herbaceous erect (bushy) or prostrate climbing annual or perennial |
| Growing Climate | Dry climates and need ample water |
| Soil | Grows on a wide range of soils including marginal and rocky soils, but thrives best in fertile organic soils |
| Plant Size | 2–4 m (7–13 ft.) in height |
| Stem | Thick slender, cylindrical, aerial, green or reddish-green, glabrous stems |
| Tuber Shape & Size | Terminal, elongate, conical or ellipsoid tubers 5–15 cm long and 3–6 cm wide |
| Tuber Color | White, yellow, red, pink or purple often striped or mottled red or purple, especially underneath the eyes |
| Tuber Skin | Shiny, waxy skin |
| Flesh Color | Usually yellow or white or pale lilac depending on cultivars. |
| Flavor/Aroma | Pungent |
| Taste | Sharp, peppery taste reminiscent of hot radishes when eaten raw |
| Leaf | Alternate, sub-orbicular, peltate, obtuse or rounded three- to five-lobed, glabrous, 4–6 cm by 5–7 cm, dark grey-green on the upper surface and pale green on the lower with marked purple venation. |
| Flower | Trumpet-shaped orange or orange and yellow flowers. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a schizocarp, dehiscing into three mericarps with ribbed and rugose surface each containing one seed. |
| Varieties/Types |
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| Major Nutrition | Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 77.37 mg (85.97%) Carbohydrate 9.7 g (7.46%) Protein 1.5 g (3.00%) Total dietary Fiber 0.8 g (2.11%) Total Fat (lipid) 0.1 g (0.29%) |
| Health Benefits |
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| Calories in (100 gm) | 45.7 K cal |