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CIECULAR NO. 127, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



The origin of the word ''dasheen" is somewhat obscure, but Mr. 

 Barrett, who has spent some time in Trinidad, as well as in other 

 parts of the West Indies, states that it originated in Trinidad and 

 suggests an explanation which seems at least probable. Two pos- 

 sible derivations are given: "de la Chine" or "da Chine" (the latter 

 pronounced dah-sheen, being the form in the patois of the French 

 West Indies), meaning "from China"; also "des Indes" (pronounced 

 daze-eend, or daze-and), meaning "from the Indies." Mr. Barrett 

 believes the former to offer the more likely explanation. 



Fig. 1.— a field of dasheens'as it appears in September. These broad-leaved plants when full size stand 



4 to 6 feet high and shade the ground completely. The seed tubers are planted in March; the harvest 

 takes place in October. This planting is on hammock land at the United States Plant Introduction 

 Field Station, near Brooksville, Fla. 



The dasheen is also known in various parts of tropical America 

 under the names "malanga," "eddo," "coco," "taya," and "tanier" 

 (also spelled "tannia" and "tanyah"). These names are likewise 

 often applied to the yautia and taro. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Dasheen plants are members of the botanical family Aracea^, to 

 which belong also the calla, the Indian turnip, and the caladium, or 

 elephant's-ear. The dasheen belongs to the genus Colocasia, but 

 there has not as yet been sufficient botanical work done on this group 



[Cir. 127] 



