STARCHY FOODS 155 



spring from 3-year-old roots should attain a height of 12 to 18 

 inches and a diameter of i inch. The shoots must be cut into 

 strips and soaked in water for an hour or more before boiling. 

 They are then used in soups, salads, and on toast. Few 

 people, however, outside of the Orient have acquired a liking 

 for this plant. The roots are extensively used as food in Japan 

 and China. 



DASHEENS, YAUTIAS, TAROS, TANIERS 



A number of related plants belonging to the family of 

 aroids develop large starchy tubers which have long been an 

 important source of food in tropical countries. The botanical 

 name of dasheen is Colocasia antiquorum esculentum. This 

 plant is called taro or kalo by the Hawaiians and other Poly- 

 nesians. The botanical name of the yautia or tanier is Xan- 

 thosoma, of which several species have been cultivated, 

 particularly sagittifolium, atrovirens, and violaceum. Certain 

 varieties of yautia are commonly referred to the genus Alo- 

 casia, but since this group of plants apparently does not produce 

 flowers its relationship is still doubtful. 



In Hawaii there are 300 or more varietal names of taro 

 and even after allowance is made for synonyms, it is probable 

 that there are from 40 to 60 distinct varieties of taro in Hawaii. 

 Dark taros make the best poi. This group of taro includes the 

 varieties known as Lihua, Ele-ele, Palii, etc. The pink and 

 white taros give the largest yields. This group includes 

 Kuoho, Wehiwa, etc. Mafia is the commonest variety of yel- 

 low taros. The taro is propagated by suckers called hulis, 

 which develop from the top or side of the tubers. There are 

 two main groups of taro from a cultural standpoint, the upland 

 and irrigated taros. Upland taro, like upland rice, is grown 

 without irrigation in climates with a reasonably high rainfall. 

 Irrigated taros, on the other hand, are grown in precisely the 

 same manner as rice. The areas planted to irrigated taro are 

 surrounded by dikes just as in rice fields for holding the water 



