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Xanthosoma sagittifolium
| Family Name: | Araceae |
| Common Name: | Yautia, Tannia Cocoyam, Malanga, 千年芋, Keladi Betawi |
Xanthsoma sagittifolium or Yautia is a fast growing herb that grows to 2 m tall. It has arrow-shaped leaves that droops downwards, produces multiple pale brown tubers with pink, yellow or white flesh. Yautias are widely cultivated as a food crop in many countries for its edible tubers. In Cuba and Puerto Rico, they are used to make make sancocho, mondongo, pasteles and alcapurrias.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
|---|
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Costa Rica to South Tropical America |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A fast-growing herb that reaches up to 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its main stem is short, thick, globose to cylindrical, produce arrow-shaped leaves. The petiole grows to 1.5 m long, attached at the base of the leaf. Its leaves are dark green or purplish in color, grows up to 90 cm long and 60 cm wide. |
| Flowers | Its flowers are produced in a spadix inflorescence. The boat-shaped spathe can come in colours of light green, silver green, yellow green or purple. The spathe hoods over the spadix, measuring 15 – 20 cm long. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Its tubers are pale brown with white, pink or yellow flesh. Each plant produces up to 10 or more tubers. |
| Habitat | Commonly found under the rainforest canopy, naturalized along shady stream banks. Does not grow under flooded or swampy conditions. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Storage Organs Food (Fruit & Vegetable) |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Moist Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34027 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8443 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
