226 VEGETABLES AND FOOD PRODUCTS 



acid succulent leaf-stalks are used as a salad. The plant is said 

 to thrive in almost any free soil, and is readily propagated by the 

 tubers. 



Plectranthus tuberosus (Labiatae, Coleus family). Country 

 Potato; "Innala" S. A small herbaceous plant with succulent 

 aromatic leaves, commonly grown in low-country native gardens 

 for the sake of its small watery, but edible, underground tubers. 

 The latter are often retailed in the markets and boutiques, being 

 used as a vegetable in curries ; they appear to have little to re- 

 commend them as an article of food ; but their quality might 

 possibly be improved by cultivation and selection. In 'Africa, 

 Madagascar, Cochin China, etc., this and other species of 

 Plectranthus are said to be grown and relished by the Natives. 

 The plants are easily propagated by cuttings or tubers, and may be 

 grown like Sweet-potatoes, being planted about 8 in. apart in a bed 

 of light rich soil. 



Tacca pinnatif ida (Taccaceae). " Garandi-kidaran ' ' 5. 

 A stemless tuberous plant, with leaves 1 to 3 ft. long and parted 

 into three segments, native of the dry region of Ceylon (Bintenne, 

 Bitticaloa, and Jaffna), being found in open grassy places. It is 

 also indigenous to India, Burma and Malaya, and is commonly 

 cultivated in parts of India, Tropical Africa, Pacific Islands, etc. 

 The plant has a large round tuberous root, which yields a con- 

 siderable quantity of white nutritious fecula. This is considered 

 to be equal to the best arrowroot, which it somewhat resembles, 

 and is .said to form an important article of local trade in 

 Travancore, Fiji, Hawaii, and elsewhere*. The tubers, dug up after 

 the leaves have died down, are rasped and macerated for 4 or 5 days 

 in cold water, when the fecula separates, being then prepared in 

 the same manner as sago. In the crude state it is intensely bitter 

 and acrid, but these qualities are removed by the process of soak- 

 ing and washing. The plant is suited to a rich porous soil, and 

 may be planted in rows about 3 ft. apart. Propagated by division 

 of the root-stock. 



Xanthosoma. (Aroideae). "Tannias" or "Tanniers;" 

 "Cocoes ;" "Eddoes;" "Yautias;" "Taroes" These are some of 

 the numerous vernacular names applied in the Pacific Isles, 

 S. America and the West Indies to different species or varieties of 

 Xanthosoma and Colocasia. In Ceylon, as elsewhere, much con- 

 fusion exists in regard to the names of these plants, which here are 

 all generally referred to under the vernacular names of " Habarala," 

 "Gahala," etc. MR. BAKRETT, of the Porto Rico Experiment 



