Xanthosoma
Xanthosoma
Xanthosoma (/zænθoʊˈsoʊmə/), also known as malanga, yautia, and taro among other names, is a genus of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae. The genus contains around 50 species that are indigenous to tropical America. Some species are widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical regions.
Etymology
The name Xanthosoma is derived from the Greek words xanthos, meaning "yellow", and soma, meaning "body". This refers to the yellowish color of the plant's tubers in some species.
Description
Xanthosoma species are perennial plants with an often large, tuberous rootstock. The leaves are medium to very large, long-petioled, the blade sagittate or subdivided. The plants produce an inflorescence with a spadix enveloped by a spathe. The fruit is a cluster of berries.
Cultivation and uses
Many Xanthosoma species are grown for their starchy corms, an important food staple of tropical regions, known variously as malanga, yautia, tannia, and taro. The leaves and stems of some species, known as callaloo, are also used as a vegetable in Caribbean cooking.
Related terms
- Araceae: The family to which Xanthosoma belongs.
- Corm: A short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ.
- Spathe: A large, usually colorful bract that encloses a flower cluster or spadix.
- Spadix: A type of inflorescence found in the Araceae family.
- Tuber: The swollen, fleshy, usually underground stem or root of a plant, as in a potato, used for food and propagation.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Xanthosoma
- Wikipedia's article - Xanthosoma
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