natural herbs
Bigroot
Marah fabaceus
Herb: Bigroot
Latin name: Marah fabaceus
Synonyms: Echinocystis fabacea
Family: Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber Family, Gourd Family)
Edible parts of Bigroot:
Used as a vegetable. We do not know if the fruit, root or the leaves are used.Description of the plant:
Plant:
Perennial ClimberHeight:
6 m(20 feet)
Flowering:
July toSeptember
Habitat of the herb:
Banks and slopes below 750 metres in coastal strand and mixed evergreen forests.Other uses of Bigroot:
The crushed seeds, mixed with oil, have been rubbed on the hair to prevent baldness.Propagation of the herb:
Seed - sow early spring in pots of rich soil in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 2 weeks at 20°C. Put 2 or 3 seeds in each pot and thin to the best plant. Grow on fast and plant out after the last expected frosts.Cultivation of Bigroot:
Banks and slopes below 750 metres in coastal strand and mixed evergreen forests.Medicinal use of the herb:
None knownKnown hazards of Marah fabaceus:
The root is said to be poisonous to fish. We have no reports as to whether or not it is toxic to mammals.Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.