Mirabilis expansa, Chago, Mauka

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 6 min read

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Article Summary

Key Takeaways

This article explains Mirabilis expansa Scientific Classification in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.

Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Mirabilis expansa is a rare Andean crop plant that is cultivated for food and fodder in the highlands of Peru, Ecuador and Bo-lvia. The herb is inherent to the Andes in South America and distributed naturally in the area of La Paz (Bolivia), to the North of Quito (Ecuador) and in Cajamarca (Peru). Withal, it is also found in Chile, Venezuela and its wild ancestors are found in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Until 1960, the crop is distinguished by its rarity. The crop survived only in a few scattered garden plots in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Furthermore, the plant cannot resist frost.

Name	Mirabilis expansa
Scientific Name	Mirabilis expansa
Native	Andes in South America, distributed naturally in the area of La Paz (Bolivia), to the North of Quito (Ecuador) and in Cajamarca (Peru)
Common/English Name	Chago, Mauka
Name in Other Languages	Bolivia: Mauka; Ecuador: Pega-Pega, Miso, Taso; Peru: Chago, Arricón, Cushipe, Yuca, Inca, Chaco; Spanish: Arracacha De Toro, Camotillo, Arricón, Chagos, Cushpe, Mauka, Shallca Yuca, Pega-Pega, Yuca De La Jalca, Yuca Inca
Plant Growth Habit	Herbaceous perennial
Soil	Fertile, moist, deep, loose alluvial
Plant Size	1 m high
Flower	White
Root	White or yellow
Stem	Swollen
Seed	Small, dark brown

Mirabilis expansa Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Mirabilis expansa

Rank	Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom	Viridiplantae (Green plants)
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta (Land plants)
Superdivision	Embryophyta
Division	Tracheophyta (Vascular plants, tracheophytes)
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Nyctaginaceae (Four o’clocks, nyctaginacées)
Genus	Mirabilis L. (Four-o’clock, four o’clock)
Species	Mirabilis expansa (Ruiz & Pav.) Standl. (Mauka)
Synonyms	Allionia expansa (Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze Calyxhymenia expansa Ruiz & Pav. Calymenia expansa (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. Oxybaphus expansa (Ruiz & Pav.) Vahl

Belonging to the family Nyctingaceae, Mirabilis expansa is a large plant that grows to 6 feet in diameter and 3-4 feet high in a single growing season. Stems are unruly and long. The root is the primary edible part weighing 5 pounds. Roots have a subjective flavor i.e. a combination of potato and cabbage.

Plant description

Mirabilis expansa is a compact and herbaceous perennial herb that grows 1 meter high. Swollen stems are white, yellow or salmon-colored. They are fleshy, smooth about 50 cm long and 5 cm in diameter. Tuberous roots while young are yellow and older ones are white. The aerial portion is a mass of foliage formed from basal shoots. Stems are cylindrical having short distinct internodes, pale green or has reddish markings. Leaves are opposite ovate or cordate, petioled and pubescent, 8 cm by 3 cm wide having reddish edges. Inflorescences are terminal racemes and 3-6 cm long topped with viscid hairs. Flowers are apetalous and calyx is tubular having five cleft purple, white or white-purple mottled perianth. Stamens are 5-6 long as perianth. Fruit is a hard capsule that consists of small and dark brown seeds.

History

Mirabilis expansa was a predominant food of at least one tribe conquered by the Incas. Inca practiced dislocating potentially resistant populations to other areas of the empire to weaken solidarity. These people took crops with them so it was spread from Cajamarca, Peru to Bolivia and Ecuador. In 1965, the crop was rediscovered and first described in the scientific literature after being identified near Yorkarguaya in Bolivia.

Culinary uses

Swollen roots are cooked.
Swollen roots and stems are either boiled or fried as vegetables.
In Bolivia, dried tubers are chopped, boiled and mixed with brown sugar or honey and toasted grain.
Use the cooked tubers as an ingredient in soups and stews.
Mix the salty and sweet forms with molasses or syrup and eat with tomatoes and fish.
The leaves are also eaten as a cooked leafy vegetable or used raw in salads and chilli sauces.
The roots are also sundried.
Leaves are consumed raw or added to salads.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Avoid heavy lifting, sudden bending, and prolonged bed rest.
Use comfortable posture and gentle movement as tolerated.
Discuss physiotherapy, X-ray, or MRI only when clinically needed.

OTC medicine safety

For mild back pain, pain-relief medicine may be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
Avoid repeated painkiller use if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcer, uncontrolled blood pressure, or are taking blood thinners.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Back pain with leg weakness, numbness around private area, loss of urine/stool control, fever, cancer history, or major injury needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider

Tests to discuss with doctor

Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

Ask a health question safely

Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.