Cyrtosperma merkusii

Cyrtosperma merkusii or giant swamp taro, is a crop grown throughout Oceania and into South and Southeast Asia. It is a riverine and "swamp crop" similar to taro, but "with bigger leaves and larger, coarser roots." There are no demonstrably wild populations today, but it is believed to be native to Indonesia. It is known as puraka in Cook Islands, lak in Yap (Federated States of Micronesia), babai in Kiribati, iaraj in the Marshall Islands, brak in Palau, babaʻ in the Marianas Islands, pula’a in Samoa, via kana, Pulaka in Lau, Lovo in Fiji, pulaka in Tokelau and Tuvalu, mwahng in Pohnpei, pasruk in Kosrae, simiden in Chuuk, swam taro in Papua New Guinea, navia in Vanuatu and palawan in the Philippines. The same species is also known by the names Cyrtosperma lasioides, Cyrtosperma chamissonis and Cyrtosperma edule. In the harsh atoll environments of the Central Pacific, especially Tuvalu and Kiribati, swamp taro is an important source of carbohydrates in a diet dominated by fish and coconut. Its cultivation is difficult and time-consuming, and the plant has deep cultural as well as practical significance. The roots need to be cooked for hours to reduce toxicity in the corms, but are rich in nutrients, especially calcium. The cultivation of Pulaka in Tuvalu, and babai in Kiribati, is an important cultural and culinary tradition, now under threat from rising sea level and displacement from the growing use of imported food products. In Nepal, Giant Swamp Taro is called mane and grows in the tropical and sub tropical forests along stream banks. It is gathered in January–February and all plant parts (leaf, stem, rhizomes) are savored after being boiled and roasted. The stem requires prolonged boiling and the water is replaced once to remove irritating chemicals. If cooked carefully, the rhizomes taste like taro and the leaves like spinach. But without careful washing, the food causes an unpleasant tingling or scratchy sensation.

Description

A large perennial taro family plant up to 2-3 m high, with the pointy ends to the leaf lobes. The leaves are very large, upright and with points on the bottom lobes. The leaf stalks are up to 2.5 m long and 10 cm across. The leaves are 1.5 m long. Other aspects of the plant can vary such as kinds which are more spiny on the leaf stalks than others. The plants can grow up to 4 metres tall. Under the ground there is a large fattened rhizome or corm. This is shaped liked a cylinder and can be up to 70 kg in size. The plant produces a large purple lily type flower which then produces a group of seeds which are orange in colour. The plant produces suckers. The number of suckers varies with varieties.

Edible Uses

The corms are peeled and boiled or roasted, and are also used to make flour. The tubers are often boiled, mashed, and fermented before cooking again. Young leaves and flowers are also eaten.

Traditional Uses

The corms are peeled and boiled or roasted. They are also used to make flour. Leaves and young flowers can be eaten. The tubers are ofte boiled then mashed and left to ferment before cooking again.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is noted as a commercially cultivated vegetable and is a major crop on Pacific atoll islands.

Known Hazards

The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals. These cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten, but they are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant and grows from 18°N to 20°S. It grows in fresh or brackish swamps up to 150 m altitude. Water 0.6-0.9 m deep and rich in humus is the environment used. It can stand shade. It can withstand flooding. It occurs in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines as well as in other countries. It is found in valleys in central and southern parts of the Philippines. It is grown in Visayas and Camarines. In Papua New Guinea it becomes important in Bougainville. It grows in fresh or brackish swamps up to 150 m altitude. It occurs on atoll islands. It has reasonable salt tolerance (2%).

Where It Grows

Asia, Bougainville, Brunei, Caroline Islands, China, Chuuk, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Guam, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mortlock Islands, Nauru, Nepal, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, Polynesia, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tokelau, Tonga, Truk, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, Yap,

Cultivation

Plants are normally put in swamps or ditches. Parts of the main corm, or suckers can be used for planting. It can be intercropped with Colocasia taro. A spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m is suitable. It normally receives little management. It is known to respond to organic matter.

Propagation

Seed - Division of suckers. Cormels, which send up leaves and develop into suckers, are produced as side shoots on the parent corm after about three years.

Production

Yields of 10-15 tons/year/ha have been recorded. It takes 2-6 years to mature. Tubers become more fibrous with time so that 2 years is a suitable harvesting time. Individual corms can weigh 2-50 kg.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. This taro is seen in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea but only becomes important in some of the coral atoll islands. It is a major crop in Atoll Islands in the Pacific.

Notes

There are 11-12 Cyrtosperma species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ape de veo, Aro matawa, Baba, Babai, Brak, Bwanihaka, Dababai, Gabi, Galiang, Gallan, Iaraj, Kakake, Kakale, Kakama, Kape ta'a-ta'a, Karake, Lak, Lok, Mane, Maota, Muen, Muiang, Mwahng, Mweiang, Mwong, Niha, Palanau, Palauan, Paluku, Papai, Papoi, Pasruk, Pula'a, Pulaka, Puna, Pura, Puraka, Puraka, Pwolok, Ta'o, Tao Kape, Te babai, Teplaka, Tepulaka, Tepuraka, Ula, Via kana, Via kau, Voruku

References (74)

• Cyrtosperma merkusii (chamissonis) swamp taro references.
• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 113
• Ali,A & Asghar,M., The Agronomy of Cyrtosperma chamissionis in Kiribati. Alafua Agricultural Bulletin 12(3): Sep.-Dec. ‘87.
• Allen, R.N., 1929, Photomicrographs of Philippine starches. Philipp.J. Sci., 38(2):247-248.
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 102 (As Cyrtosperma chamissonis)

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