SafePlants

Cocoyam: A Versatile Tropical Root Crop

Cocoyam is a common name that refers to several tropical root vegetables, notably plants in the Araceae family. This starchy, tuberous root crop is cultivated in many regions for its edible corms and tubers.

Scientific Name and Common Names

• Common Names: Cocoyam, Taro, Dasheen (in the English-speaking Caribbean)
• Scientific Names:
  • Colocasia esculenta
  • Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Macabo cocoyam)
  • Xanthosoma violaceum

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Araceae
• Kingdom: (Implied: Plantae, based on the provided information)
• Rank: Genus (Colocasia, Xanthosoma)

Distribution and Habitat

• Cocoyam is primarily grown in tropical regions.
• It is found in Africa, the Caribbean, and Australia (specifically cool/mountain regions).
• It thrives in well-drained, sandy loamy soil with good water retention.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Cocoyam is a herbaceous perennial plant.
• Colocasia esculenta is a perennial forb that originates from a large corm and can grow to 4 ft (1.5 m) in height.
• It is grown as a root vegetable for its edible starch corm and also for its leaves.

Uses and Consumption

• Cocoyam is commonly used in similar ways to yam, including boiling, frying, or pounding into fufu.
• It is used as a soup thickener.
• The corms of Colocasia are consumed after boiling, frying, or roasting.
• In Cameroon, "Sese Coco" is a dish made with cocoyams (and sometimes yams) with bitterleaf fried in red Palm oil and spices.
• Cocoyam is also processed into flour and chips.

Considerations for Consumption

• Cocoyam consumption can be affected by acridity factors, which can cause a sharp irritation and burning sensation in the throat and mouth.

Ecology and Cultivation

• Cocoyam is considered a food security crop for poor farmers.
• Old cocoyam was planted in coconut groves.

Quirky Facts

• The name "cocoyam" is thought to originate from the combination of "coco" (referring to coconut groves where it was planted) and "yam" (due to its resemblance to yams).
• Cocoyam is sometimes referred to as "old cocoyam", with "new cocoyam" named after it due to a resemblance.

Further Information

• The National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, has a Cocoyam Programme.
• Dictionary.com and Encyclopedia.com provide definitions of cocoyam.