Goeppertia allouia

Goeppertia allouia (syn. Calathea allouia), known as lerén or lairén in Spanish, and also known in English as Guinea arrowroot, and sweet corn root, is a plant in the arrowroot family, native to northern South America and the Caribbean. The name "allouia" is derived from the Carib name for the plant. Lerén is a minor food crop in the American tropics, but was one of the earliest plants domesticated by pre-historic Amerindians in South America.

Description

A herb. It grows 1 m tall. The roots are tuber shaped and 2-8 cm at the end of the roots. The leaves are 60 cm long by 20 cm wide.

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Edible Uses

The tubers are cooked and eaten, with a taste like sweet corn and a crisp texture.

Traditional Uses

The tubers are cooked and eaten. It has a taste like sweet corn and remains crisp.

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Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies, Winward Is.,

Cultivation

It can be grown from rhizomes.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Lairen, Leren

References (2)

• Ulian, T., et al, 2020, Unlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agriculture. Plants, People, Planet. 2020;2:421–445.
• World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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