47 



37. Dasheen 

 Colocasia antiquorum 



CAUTION: This large underground tuber is poisonous, or at 

 least dangerous, if eaten raw. It causes intense burning and 

 swelling in the mouth and throat. However, when thoroughly 

 baked or boiled, it has a good flavor and is nutritious. When 

 cooked, these roots closely resemble Irish potatoes. The tender 

 leaves also may be cooked and eaten like spinach. The dasheen 

 was brought to America from the Old World and is now planted 

 commonly on the sandy soils of the Caribbean lowlands. It 

 is also called coco-yam, coco and eddoes in Jamaica, malanga and 

 malanga yautia in Puerto Rico and papa malanga. 



