EMERGENCY FOOD PLANTS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 13-14 



less degree the Cyrtosperma and Alocasia. In these culti- 

 vated forms, the underground part is usually greatly en- 

 larged, forming a tuber very rich in starch; thus to a very 

 considerable degree these tubers take the place of the com- 

 mon potato in the Tropics where a starchy food is needed 

 to help maintain a balanced diet. The taro tuber in par- 

 ticular is a very excellent well-flavored vegetable. The taro 

 leaves may be cooked and eaten, although the fresh leaves 

 are abundantly supplied with the minute stinging crystals, 

 which in the uncooked leaves are very irritating. 



b. In general, when considering any of the numerous 

 species of this family as food (other than the tubers of the 

 taro), one should keep constantly in rnind the usual pres- 

 ence of these microscopic stinging crystals of oxalate of lime 

 and avoid putting any part of the raw plant into the mouth. 

 The application of heat breaks down these stinging crystals 

 so by thoroughly cooking the plant parts that are abun- 

 dantly supplied with these very irritating needlelike crystals 

 they may be safely eaten. However, in most cases, the first 

 "taste" of the cooked aroid should be on the basis of a very 

 small quantity, and if irritation results the material should 

 be cooked for a longer period of time. 



H 14. Specific Araceae. — a. Taro iColocasia esculenta) . — 

 This is one of the most commonly cultivated food plants in 

 Polynesia, and also in the Malayan region, usually grown in 

 wet lands. The many varieties are usually 1 1/2 feet high. The 

 tubers are rich in starch and may be eaten in quantity, either 

 boiled or roasted. They are an excellent substitute for the 

 potato. The young leaves are commonly eaten as greens, 

 but as they contain very many minute stinging crystals they 

 must be thoroughly boiled before eating, as the application 

 of heat destroys these irritating crystals. Local names: Tdo, 

 tdlo, taro, tale, tdlas, tales, tdleh, tdlos, tdleus, kdlo, sune, 

 gdbi, kelddi, kulddi, etu, lumbu, sukat, ambdrgo, sauhat, gete, 

 bete, kudjang. Idle, Idee, loeh, mdlau, bolang, gelo, lomak, die, 

 kole, kore, korei, wongkai, alddi, tdlok, pdtjo, suli, ronan, 

 gwdi, ketu, etu, hdkar, wdkal, inan, indno, inane, gehut, kdlen, 

 mom, warimu, hekere, buge, mengkodo, kemb, kom, komo, 

 dildgo. 



516614°— 43 2 H 



