| Xanthosoma caracu | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Genus: | Xanthosoma |
| Species: | X. caracu |
| Binomial name | |
| Xanthosoma caracu | |
Xanthosoma caracu (yautia horqueta) is a species ofedible plant in the familyAraceae.[1][2] It was firstformally described byKarl Koch andCarl David Bouché.[3] It is native to South America and cultivated in Puerto Rico.[4]
Xanthosoma caracu grows to between 1.5 metres (5 feet) to 1.8 m (6 ft) in height. Theleaves are bluish-green and glossy on top and pale underneath, growing up to 0.61 m (2 ft) long and 38 centimetres (15 inches) wide.[5]
The entire plant contains a toxin which requires it to be cooked before it can be safely eaten.[6]
Thecorms and leaves are edible and are cultivated for food inMexico, theCaribbean (includingPuerto Rico) and northernSouth America.[7][8] The corms are high instarch.[6]
Data related toXanthosoma caracu at Wikispecies