8 COLOCASIA ANTIQUORUM. 



COLOCASIA ANTIQUORUM, Schott* 



[Vide Plate LXXV.] 



Taro ; ghuiyan, arbi, arwi, gagli, kachalu (Hind.) ; kachu (Sans.) 



Natural order Aroidece. Stems reduced to a thick farinaceous corm. Leaves peltate, cordate 

 ovate. Flowering stem shorter than the leaf-stalks. Spathe exceeding the spadix, cylindric, erect. 



Boxburgh describes five varieties, two cultivated and three wild. It is much culti- 

 vated in these Provinces for its large carrot-shaped root, which constitutes a very 

 favourite article of food amongst the lower classes. The young leaves are also eaten, but 

 they, as well as the roots, require to be well cooked in order to get rid of the acrid 

 juice contained in this plant. Two varieties appear to be grown, viz., dholi hi gagli, 

 the white-rooted kind, and kali hi gagli, with dark coloured roots. The word gagli, 

 strictly speaking, refers to the young offsets, the main root being known as dendu. Of 

 the latter a pickle is often made, prepared with chillies, salt, and lime juice, and is sold 

 in the bazars. The bazar rate for the vegetable is about one maund and a half for one 

 rupee. The young leaves are used as sag (spinach), and are sometimes mixed with 

 gram flour and cooked. In the Cawnpore district ghuiyan is sown in February, and 

 the crop requires constant watering, once every week at least, and also eight weedings. 

 It is not a very paying crop, the average outturn being 50 maunds per acre; it is 

 therefore not very much grown. When it is dug, half a seer of the root is given to the 

 labourer instead of chahena. It is a poor tasteless vegetable, and a very indifferent sub- 

 stitute for potatos. (Wright, Mem. Agri. Cawnpore, 64). In the Farnkhabad district 

 999 acres are mentioned in the Gazetteer as occupied by this crop. Batten states that 

 this plant is extensively grown in the Bhabar tract, and that the roots are sold at one 

 rupee per maund. 



Dr. Dymock says that the acrid juice of the petioles is a common domestic remedy 

 on account of its styptic and astringent properties. The petiole, or leaf-stalk, is slightly 

 roasted and the juice expressed. The tubers chopped up fine and heated are used as a 

 fomentation in rheumatism. 



According to Mr. T. N. Mukharji, the roots, cut into small pieces and boiled, either 

 alone or with rice ends, or with plants of Amarantus spinosus, are used as cattle food 

 in Bengal. 



Explanation of Plate LXXV. 



1. Vertical section of spathe showing the spadix. I 3. Peltate leaf. 



2. Spathe enclosing the spadix. I 4. Corm, with offsets attached. 



•References t— Wight, Ic, t. 786 ; Watt., Diet. Ecouom. Prod., II., 509 ; Roylc, III. Him. Bot., 406 ; Dymock, Mat. 

 Med. W. Ind., 817 ; Batten, Statist. Sketch of Kuinaun, 28 j Atkinson, Kconom. Prod., N.-W. Prov., V., 24 ; Him Dist , L, 

 704, 733 ; DC, L'Orig. PL Cult., 58. Arum Colocatia, Willd.; Roxb., Fl. led. (Clarke's Kd.), 624 j Stewart, Pnnj. PI., 247. 

 Wright, Mem. Agri. Cawnpore, 64. 



