* A mysterious plant that’s not well known even by scientists in India *

Today I came across this 3' large and strange "tuber"(?), whose thin slices were being sold as a street-side snack near #mumbai in #india

It seems to be popular in southern India, usually near Hindu religious sites. It is sold under the name “Ram Kand Mool” and the mythological claim is that when the Hindu god Ram was in exile for 14 years, he sustained on this “fruit”.

Turns out, no one really knows what plant this is, and if it’s even safe to eat. There was some genetic testing done and it was found to be similar to Agave. The street vendors and their suppliers have kept it a secret all these years. This is honestly mind-boggling to me, that in a country of 1.3 billion a street snack’s origins is a secret.

#inaturalist #botany #biology #mythology