African Arrowroot

Arrowroot is also known as nduma (Swahili).A perennial herb belonging to the family Araceace about 1 m in height with a whorl of arrowhead-shaped leaves born on long petioles emerging from an underground, starchy corm.

This crop is also known as coco yam (West Africa).Arrowroot Plants are propagated from the cut tops when roots are harvested or from vegetative plantlets (suckers).

This crop prefers moist soil and is often grown in Valley bottoms and poorly drained areas. Roots require 6-10 months grown before harvest but the younger leaves may be collected as needed.

Nutritive Value of African Arrowroot

The leaves, petioles and corm (roots) are edible but require lengthy boiling as the entire plant contains crystals of calcium oxalate, a severe irritant.

The leaf veins and petioles "skin" are particularly high in calcium oxalate and must be cut away or peeled prior to cooking.

The cooked leaves contain 3% protein, 6% carbohydrates and rich in vitamin C. Click here to learn more on African Arrowroot preparation

Arrowroot is sometimes confused with Xanthosoma sp., (coco yam), but the latter crop does not have edible leaves.

Arrowroot is the same crop as taro, the widely consumed staple food of many Pacific Ocean Polynesian societies, and is also prepared into a nutritious baby food and marketed in developed countries.