Echites panduratus (common name: loroco ) is a climbing vine with edible flowers, widespread in El Salvador, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America as well as parts of Mexico. The name "loroco" is used throughout Mesoamerica to refer to the species.
Description
Echites panduratus is an herbaceous vine with oblong-elliptical to broadly ovate leaves . long, 1.5–8 cm broad, inflorescences are generally somewhat shorter than the leaves, with 8–18 flowers, the pedicels 4–6 mm. long; bracts ovate, long; calyx lobes ovate, acute or obtuse, 2–3 mm. long; corolla white within, greenish outside.
Range
Echites panduratus ranges from northeastern Mexico to Costa Rica.
Uses
Echites panduratus is an important source of food in Guatemala and El Salvador. The plant's buds and flowers are used for cooking in a variety of ways, including in pupusas.
References
León, J., H. Goldbach & J. Engels, 1979: Die genetischen Ressourcen der Kulturpflanzen Zentralamerikas., Int. Genbank CATIE/GTZ in Turrialba, Costa Rica, San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica, 32 pp. Morton, J. F., E. Alvarez & C. Quiñonez, 1990: Loroco, Fernaldia pandurata (Apocynaceae): a popular edible flower of Central America. Economic Botany 44, 301–310.
External links
Loroco in World Crops (English)