Xanthosoma

The inflorescence in Xanthosoma is composed of a spadix with pistillate flowers at the base, a belt of sterile flowers offered as a reward for pollinators in the middle and staminate flowers on the upper part. Prior to opening, the inflorescence is enclosed within a leaf-like spathe. When the inflorescence is ready to open, the upper part of the spathe opens and exposes the staminate area of the spadix; the basal area of the spathe remains closed, forming a spacious chamber (i.e., the spathe tube) that encloses the pistillate and sterile flowers (). The inflorescences last for two nights and are protogynous in some, but not all species. == Taxonomy ==

Species The following species are accepted: - Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil; naturalized in West Indies, Africa, Bangladesh, Borneo, Malaysia, Christmas Island, Norfolk Island, some Pacific Islands, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Oaxaca • Xanthosoma saguasense G.S.Bunting - Venezuela • Xanthosoma seideliae Croat - Bolivia • Xanthosoma stenospathum Madison - Peru • Xanthosoma striatipes (K.Koch & C.D.Bouché) Madison - Brazil, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay • Xanthosoma striolatum Mart. ex Schott - French Guiana, northern Brazil • Xanthosoma syngoniifolium Rusby - Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil • Xanthosoma taioba E.G.Gonç. - Paraíba • Xanthosoma tarapotense Engl. - Peru • Xanthosoma trichophyllum K.Krause - Peru, Ecuador • Xanthosoma trilobum G.S.Bunting - Amazonas State of Venezuela • Xanthosoma ulei Engl. - northwestern Brazil • Xanthosoma undipes (K.Koch) K.Koch – tall elephant's ear - widespread from Bolivia north to southern Mexico and West Indies • Xanthosoma viviparum Madison - Peru, Ecuador • Xanthosoma weeksii Madison - Ecuador • Xanthosoma wendlandii (Schott) Schott (syn. Xanthosoma hoffmannii Schott, Xanthosoma pedatum Hemsl.) Oaxaca, Central America, Venezuela • Xanthosoma yucatanense Engl. - Yucatán, Quintana Roo Deprecated • Phyllotaenium lindenii André (as X. lindenii (André) Engl.) Etymology The name is derived from the Greek words (), meaning 'yellow', and (), meaning 'body'. It refers to the stigma or yellow inner tissues. == Uses ==

Domestication of Xanthosoma species (especially X. sagittifolium but also X. atrovirens, X. violaceum, X. maffaffa and others) is thought to have originated in northern lowland South America, then spread to the Antilles and Mesoamerica. Today, Xanthosoma is still grown in all those regions, but is especially popular in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where it is used in alcapurrias or boiled. It is grown in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Jamaica to make the popular callaloo dish, and in St. Kitts and Nevis to make tannia fritters. It is also grown in West Africa, now a major producer, where it can be used as a replacement for yams in a popular regional dish called fufu. Xanthosoma is also grown as a crop in the Philippines. Traditionally, Xanthosoma has been a subsistence crop with excess sold at local markets, but in the United States, large numbers of Latin American immigrants have created a market for commercial production. In general, production has yet to meet demand in some areas. In Polynesia, Alocasia macrorrhizos (‘ape) was considered a famine food, used only in the event of failure of the much preferred taro (kalo) crop. After having been introduced to Hawaii in the 1920s from South America, Xanthosoma has naturalized and has become more common than A. macrorrhizos, and has been given the same name, ʻape. The typical Xanthosoma plant has a growing cycle of 9 to 11 months, during which time it produces a large stem called a corm, this surrounded by smaller edible cormels about the size of potatoes. These cormels (like the corm) are rich in starch. Their taste has been described as earthy and nutty, and they are a common ingredient in soups and stews. They may also be eaten grilled, fried, or puréed. The young, unfurled leaves of some varieties can be eaten as boiled leafy vegetables or used in soups and stews, such as the Caribbean callaloo. Flour made from Xanthosoma species is hypoallergenic. == Gallery ==

File:Xanthosoma sagittifolium at Kadavoor.jpg|Inflorescence of Xanthosoma sagittifolium File:Inflo detail.jpg|Inflorescence of X. daguense File:Xanthosoma pollination.jpg|Beetle pollination in X. daguense File:Infruc Xanthosoma copy.jpg|Infructescence of X. poeppigii (Peruvian Amazonas); X. daguense (Western Cordillera of Los Andes, Colombia) ==References==