Smallanthus maculatus, 3 in vitro plantlets

Smallanthus maculatus is a relative of yacon, native to the cloud forests of Central America.  It may be useful in yacon breeding but is not really itself an edible plant.  Both the leaves and roots were traditionally used as an herbal remedy for abdominal pain, so it doesn’t appear to be dangerous to consume in small amounts, but I don’t think anybody has really tested it as a food.  Unlike yacon, it does not make storage tubers.  It makes a large cluster of thickened roots, much like yacon produces before they begin to bulk up.  S. maculatus looks very similar to yacon, but grows taller, has very attractive green and purple mottled stems, and larger flowers.  It does not flower until fall in our climate.  It may be of interest as an ornamental.  Climate tolerance is similar to yacon, but it is more difficult to store over winter, since it does not produce crowns in the same way as yacon.  This species does not have large pieces of crown rhizome like yacon.