Echites panduratus (common name: loroco[loˈɾoko]) is a climbing vine with edible flowers, widespread in Guatemala, El Salvador, and other countries in Central America as well as parts of Mexico. The name "loroco" is used throughout its range to refer to the species.
Description
Echites panduratus is an herbaceous vine with oblong-elliptical to broadly ovate leaves 4–13 centimetres (1.6–5.1in). long, 1.5–8cm broad, inflorescences are generally somewhat shorter than the leaves, with 8–18 flowers, the pedicels 4–6mm. long; bracts ovate, 1–2 millimetres (0.039–0.079in) long; calyx lobes ovate, acute or obtuse, 2–3mm. 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, Honduras, and El Salvador. The plant's buds and flowers are used for cooking in a variety of ways, including in pupusas.
↑Davidse, G. & al. (eds.) (2009). Flora Mesoamericana 4(1): 1-855. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F.
↑Morales, J.F. (2009). Estudios en las Apocynaceae neotropicales XXXIX: revisión de las Apocynoideae y Rauvolfioideae de Honduras. Anales del Jardin Botanico de Madrid 66: 217–262.
12Azurdia, César; Loroco (Fernaldia pandurata, Apocynaceae), a Mesoamerican species in the process of domestication
S. Facciola (1990). Cornucopia. A source book of edible plants. Kampong.
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.
