Lepidium meyenii / Maca Root

Lepidium meyenii, commonly called Maca Root, Peruvian ginseng, maka, mace, maca-maca, maino, ayak chichira, ayuk willku, pepperweed, is a herbaceous biennial plant of the Brassicaceae family native to the high Andes of Peru.

Maca is the only member of its genus with a fleshy hypocotyl, which is fused with the taproot to form a rough inverted pear-shaped body. The growth habit, size, and proportions of maca are roughly similar to those of radishes and turnips, to which it is related.

Lepidium meyenii is sometimes called Peruvian ginseng, although it is not in the same family as ginseng but is a member of the mustard family.