Plukenetia volubilis (Inca Peanut)
Botanical Description
| Family |
Euphorbiaceous |
| Gender |
Plukenetia |
| Species |
Volubilis Linneo |
| Scientific Name |
Plukenetia Volubilis Linneo |
| Common Names |
'Amui-o', 'Sacha Yuchi', 'Sacha Inchi', 'Maní del Inca', 'Inca Peanut', 'Inca Inchi' |
| Habitat |
Trepadora |
The Sacha Inchi plant (Plukenetia Volubilis Linneo) is a wild plant that grows only in the Amazon are of Peru at an altitude between 80 and 1,700 meters above the sea level. The plant depicted in the pottery found buried in the Inca and pre-Inca tombs is proof tht these civilizations grew and consumed the Sacha Inchi nuts.
The plant has leaves in the shape of a heart and little flowers in bouquets. The fruit is in a capsule between 3 and 5 cm in diameter and is of a bright green colour. Once the fruit is ripe the colour changes to dark brown. It has 4 pods and in some cases as many as 5 or 7. The oil is extracted from the seed of these pods.
Source: http://www.sachainchicorporation.com/caracteristica-ing.html |
