Wednesday, 30 June 2010

ABC Wednesday X is for Xanthosoma


It's ABC Wednesday again and our thanks go to Denise Nesbitt and her eXcellent team who organise and host this weekly meme.
X is for Xanthosoma, a class of about fifty perennials which have either underground tubers or thick stems above ground. They are all native to tropical America and are mainly grown for their attractive foliage. Many species, like Xanthosoma sagittifolium, are cultivated for their starchy edible tubers, which can be used in stews and soups or boiled and eaten much like potatoes.
Xanthosoma sagittifolium
photo courtesy of Tau'olunga and Wikimedia Commons

22 comments:

  1. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I could just eat a dish of potatoes with mint & butter!

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  2. Well that is interesting. I didn't know the roots were edible.

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  3. an excellent choice; wouldn't have occurred to me.

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  4. You learn something every day! Decorative leaves too.

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  5. Hi!
    Interesting, I love potatoes, too much, thanks for the info. Have a great day!

    Sherrie
    Sherrie's Stuff

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  6. What an interesting post for the day, Janice! I always learn something new on ABC Day! Hope your week is going well! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

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  7. Geee... this almost looks like a poi plant.

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  8. Thank you folks :-)
    Kay, I had to look up 'poi' - so I've learnt something new :-)

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  9. You got my attention at "eaten much like potatoes" so I had to follow the link. Turns out I have some (elephant ears) if only it was Xanthosoma sagittifolium I could have boiled up a stew.

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  10. Healthy and beautiful leaves! Good choice for an X post.

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  11. If I ever wanted one to buy one of these plants, I'd have to take your photo to show the clerk because I'd never be able to pronouce it!

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  12. thank you for this informative post :)
    Like these huge leaves.

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  13. Now that is a mouthful! Great choice for X for this week!

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  14. I've never heard of this plant, but it is attractive. And how handy to have an attractive plant that's also edible.

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  15. I always enjoy it when I can be entertained and educated at the same time!

    Excellent Example of X!

    On behalf of the ABC Wednesday Team, Thanks for participating this week. Hope you can join us again next week.

    Troy

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  16. I like new potatoes, but I'd have to have a lot of butter and a sprinkle of salt -- and I won't say no to mint either.

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  17. It certainly doesn't look like something you can eat, does it? But a great find for 'X'!

    Have you tried them?

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  18. The heart-shaped leaves are very attractive.

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  19. I wonder what the salesman in the shop would say if I ask for a kg of Xanthosoma sagittithing for my soup, lol !
    I think it's easier to buy a kg of potatoes !

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  20. Oh!We have a few of those plants( in pots!)entirely for their decorative value. never knew those tubers were edible.and also didn't know their name.
    About potatoes...well! i eat too many of them EVERYDAY!

    love,
    A

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  21. Wow that's a tongue twister. I think the leaves look a bit like Arum Lilies.

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