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Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Authority	(L.) Schott.
Family	Liliopsida:Arecidae:Arecales:Palmae
Synonyms
Common names	badoo (Jam), Chinese taro (Pap.N.G.), chou (Gren), chou caraibe (Ant), Dalo ni tana (Fi), Fiji taro, ghuya, kimpool, kong kong taro (N.Guin.), macabo (Cam), maduma (Tanz), maffafa (Ant), Malanga (Ant-Cub), Malanga blanca (Nic), Mangareto (Bra), new cocoyam, Ocumo (Ven), Ocumo cuman (Ven), Quequeque (Guat.), Rascadera (Bra), Singapo?, Ta'amu papalagi, Taioba (Bra), Tajer (Sur), Talo papalagi (Sam), tania, tannia, Tanyove (Guy), Tarua??, Tata, Tayo Tyo (W.I.), Tayobe, Tayonne, Tiquisque (C.Ri.), Yautia bravia (P.Ri.)
Editor
Ecocrop code	2168

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A robust herbaceous plant with a short stem, on the apex of which are borne a few large leaves with long erect petioles. It can reach a height of 1.3-2.5 m. The tubers are usually up to 15-25 cm long and flask-shaped. USES It is mainly cultivated for its tubers, which are rich in carbohydrates, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. The tubers eaten roasted or boiled. Young leaves can be eaten as spinach. The plant is used as a nurse-crop for cacao. The main root is inedible but can be fed to livestock. GROWING PERIOD Herbaceous perennial herb, under cultivation it may be ready for harvest after 180-545 days, and early maturing types may only require 120 days. COMMON NAMES Tannia, Tania, Tannier, Yautia, Yautia des anglo saxons, Elephant's ear, Chou caraibe, Belembe, Calalu, Malanga, Tayobe, Tayonne, Tayo Tyo, Mangaretto, Malanga, Macabo, Rascadera, Taioba, Kimpool, Kong Kong Taro, Maduma, New cocoyam, Cocoyam. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: X. caracu. Tannia is indigenous to Central and South America. It is often grown where the soil moisture content is too low for the successful cultivation of Colocasia, but production is most successful in areas of high air humidity. Altitudes up to 800-1000 m or even 1900 m are considered suitable for production of Tannia, but the crop is often restricted to lowland areas where climatic conditions favour rapid growth. Optimum yields of coms are 25-37 t/ha, while average is about 6-12 t/ha. Photosynthesis pathway is probably C3.
Sources
SOURCES (Xanthosoma sagittifolium L.) Sims D 1993 (pers. comm.) Bunting E 1981 pp 29 Landon J 1984 pp 281 [TEXT, DRA, PH, FER] Kassam A 1976 pp 68 Rice R 1990 pp 287-289 [TEXT, DRA, FER, TEMP, LIG] Roecklein J 1987 pp 472 [USE] Tindall H 1983 pp 58-62 [TEXT, FER, PH, TEMP LIG, RAIN] Eswaran H 1986 Kozlowski T 1977 pp 196 Purseglove J 1972 pp 70 [USE] Hackett C 1982 pp 41 [FER, PHO, DEP, PH, TEXT, TEMP] National AS 1975 pp 33 Onwueme I 1991 pp 276-288 [RAIN, TEMP, LIG, DRA, PH] Hackett C 1984 [RAIN, TEMP, LIG, DEP, DRA, PH, SAL, TEXT, FER] Martin F 1984 pp 114-117 [TEMP, KTMP, RAIN, PHO, DRA, FER, PH, USE]