What is "cocoyam"

n. new cocoyam: ''Xanthosoma'', particularly ''Xanthosoma sagittifolium'', or the edible root of that plant; malanga.

1. n. edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants [syn: taro, dasheen, eddo]

2. tropical starchy tuberous root [syn: taro, taro root, dasheen, edda]

Cocoyam is a common name for several tropical root vegetables and may refer to:

• Taro (Colocasia esculenta) - old cocoyam
• Malanga (Xanthosoma spp.) - new cocoyam

Cocoyams are herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the family Araceae and are grown primarily for their edible roots, although all parts of the plant are edible. Cocoyams that are cultivated as food crops belong to either the genus Colocasia or the genus Xanthosoma and are generally composed of a large spherical corm (swollen underground storage stem), from which a few large leaves emerge. The petioles of the leaves stand erect and can reach lengths in excess of 1 m (3.3 ft). The leaf blades are large and heart-shaped and can reach 50 cm (15.8 in) in length. The corm produces lateral buds which give rise to tubers or cormels and suckers or stolons. Cocoyams commonly reach in excess of 1 m (3.3 ft) in height and although they are perennials, they are often grown as annuals, harvested after one season. Colocasia species may also be referred to as taro, old cocoyam, arrowroot, eddoe, macabo or dasheen and originates from Southeast or Central Asia. Xanthosoma species may be referred to as tannia, yautia, new cocoyam or Chinese taro and originates from Central and South America.