256 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Genus SPATHIPHYLLUM 

 SPATHIPHYLLUM COM M UTATU M Schott. 



Koorders states that in Celebes the young leaves of this plant 

 are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. This use is not reported 

 from the Philippines. 



Spathiphijllum commutatum is an herb about 1 meter in 

 height. It has large leaves and large, white "flowers." 



Family BROMELIACEAE 



Genus ANANAS 

 ANANAS COMOSUS (Linn.) Merr. PINEAPPLE. 



In some parts of the Philippines, particularly in parts of 

 Palawan, the pineapple has become thoroughly naturalized. 



Family TACCACEAE 



Genus TACCA 

 TACCA PINNATIFIDA Forst. Yabyaban. 



Local name: Yabyaban (Manila vicinity). 



This plant has somewhat rounded or oval tubers up to 8 centi- 

 meters in diameter, perhaps larger in rich soil. Bacon * found 

 that the tubers yielded 22.3 per cent of starch and commented on 

 the great ease with which the starch could be obtained in a pure 

 state. It is known in commerce as Polynesian or East Indian 

 arrowroot starch. The plant is, however, apparently little 

 utilized in the Philippines at the present time, and is never 

 cultivated. Blanco states that formerly very white Tacca flour 

 or starch was brought to Manila in considerable quantity, and 

 formed an agreeable food when eaten with sugar and that, mixed 

 with white flour, it was used in making bread. In preparing 

 the flour, the Filipinos rub the tubers under water with a rough 

 stone, allow the starch to settle, pour out the water, and then 

 dry the product. The starch must be washed several times 

 to eliminate the bitter principle found in the fresh tubers. In 

 some parts of Polynesia, India, and in parts of tropical Africa, 

 Tacca iminatifida is an important food plant and considerable 

 attention is given to its culture. 



Tacca pinnatifida is a large, coarse herb. The petioles are 

 1.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter and often nearly a meter in 

 length. The leaves are 1 to 1.5 meters in diameter and divided 



* Bacon, R. F., Starch production of the Philippine Islands. Philippine 

 Journal of Science, Volume 3 (1908), page 96. 



