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Enriched botanical record

Maca

Lepidium meyenii Walp.

Also indexed asMacaJinsém-peruanoMaca-peruanaMacoaPeruvian-ginsengandienkrassimacamaka
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusLepidium
Use categories4
Linked notes0

Botanical identity

A high-altitude Andean food plant commonly used as a powder.

KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderBrassicales
FamilyBrassicaceae
GenusLepidium
Scientific name with authorshipLepidium meyenii Walp.
Curated parts indexedHypocotyl

Indexed scientific synonyms

Lepidium affine Wedd.Lepidium gelidum Wedd.Lepidium meyenii f. rhombicum Thell.Lepidium meyenii f. rotundatum Thell.Lepidium meyenii subsp. gelidum (Wedd.) Thell.Lepidium meyenii var. affine (Wedd.) Thell.Lepidium meyenii var. gelidum (Wedd.) HosseusLepidium orbignyanum Wedd.Lepidium peruvianum Chacón de PopoviciLepidium peruvianum G.ChacónLepidium weddellii J.F.Macbr.Lepidium weddellii O.E.Schulz

Documented use categories

Medicine
Human food
Gene source
Crop wild relative

These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.

How to interpret this record

Traditional and practical context

Traditional and practical context is preparation-specific. A documented use category is not proof of clinical effectiveness.

Evidence boundary

Evidence must be assessed by exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.

Safety boundary

Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.

Dataset record and provenance

DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier286286-1
Use codesGS HF ME
Crop wild relativeYes

Contributing checklist sources

USDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2

Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →

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Educational index, not a treatment recommendation

The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.