The Original Mystery Plant
Dr. John Nelson

Photo by John Nelson

When I go to the supermarket I always end up spending too much time just reading labels. Sardines, wine, macaroni, roasted chickens, sushi, cheese, mustard rice, grains, milk, hot sauce, candy, cosmetics; the list goes on and on.

I've come up with a theory that modern grocery stores have two societal functions: satisfying our nutritional and every- day needs and entertainment requirements.

In the produce section there are figs from down the street, plantains from Guatemala, and strawberries from Chile, peaches from over in Gilbert, persimmons from the Orient, and lychees from Australia.

The mystery plant is the edible underground parts of a very tropical species, which is a member of the philodendron family. It's a plant that grows in clumps and has plenty of dark green, arrowhead- shaped leaves about two- feet long. They are held in a cluster above the ground resembling a cultivated elephant- ear.

The underground structures aren't exactly roots but are more like the corns of a gladiolus plant, only more elongated. Tons of this plant are grown as a crop and consumed each year in the Caribbean nations where it is something of a staple.

The species is probably native to northern South America, transported widely as a food crop by early explorers, and is now consumed worldwide throughout the tropics.

Although the fibrous exterior of the corn is rough and scratchy, the interior is perfectly white and crispy. Nutritionists say these have a very high starch content. Nevertheless, they are full of vitamins and minerals and are nutritious as a peeled, cooked vegetable, and good baked, boiled, or steamed.

It's versatile by itself or as a component of savory stews or turned into fritters. They also make popular chips when thinly sliced and deep fried with a sprinkle of sea salt after coming out of the fryer. They are good served hot, and with a squeeze of vinegar or lime juice.

Answer to this week's mystery plant

[Answer: "Malanga," Xanthosoma sagittifolium]

Dr. John Nelson is the curator of the USC Herbarium. To learn more about the Herbarium, call 777-8196. The

department also offers free plant identification.

www.herbarium.org