Xanthosoma

Xanthosoma is a genus of flowering plants in the arum family. The genus contains around 50 species that are indigenous to tropical America. Some species are widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical regions. The plants are herbaceous, growing from corms, with large, arrow-shaped leaves.

Description

The Xanthosoma species are perennial plants with an underground stem, known as a corm. The corms are large and can reach up to 25 cm in diameter. The leaves are large, often reaching up to 1.5 m in length. They are arrow-shaped, with a glossy green upper surface and a paler underside. The flowers are small and are borne on a spadix, which is surrounded by a spathe.

Cultivation and uses

Several species of Xanthosoma are cultivated for their edible corms, the most important of which is Xanthosoma sagittifolium, known as malanga and yautia in Spanish and as new cocoyam in Africa. The corms are rich in starch and can be cooked in various ways. The leaves are also edible, although they must be cooked to remove the calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the mouth and throat.

In addition to their use as food, Xanthosoma species are also grown as ornamental plants for their large, attractive leaves. They are suitable for growing in tropical and subtropical gardens, and in greenhouses in cooler climates.

Species

There are around 50 species in the genus Xanthosoma. Some of the more well-known species include:

• Xanthosoma sagittifolium - also known as malanga, yautia, and new cocoyam. This is the most widely cultivated species.
• Xanthosoma violaceum - known as blue taro because of the bluish color of its leaves.
• Xanthosoma atrovirens - known as yautia amarilla in Spanish, this species has yellowish corms.

See also

• Araceae
• Corm
• Taro

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