Sweetcorn Root, Guinea Arrowroot
Calathea allouia

Family: Marantaceae

What it is like

Sweetcorn Root or Calathea allouia is a tropical, perennial plant that grows up tp 1.5 m tall. It is native to northern South America and the Caribbean. Other common names include Guinea arrowroot, Alleluia, and Aria. Tuberous and egg shaped roots have high starch content and are consumed when cooked. Young tender flower spikes are also cooked. The leaves are large and used as tamales wrap. The flowers are white and in spiral.

Calathea allouia is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

Moist or wet, mixed forest, at elevations of 1,400 meters or less, most frequent at low elevations.

S. America, north to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Africa, Amazon, Antilles, Asia, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Hispaniola, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Edible portion: Tubers, Root, Flowers, Leaves - flavour, Vegetable. Root - cooked. Rich in starch. The crisp cooked tubers are very agreeable with a flavour like sweetcorn. It is used in salads, stews and fish dishes. Their unique texture makes them a gourmet item. Used in similar ways to potatoes. A commercially cultivated vegetable. The tubers are 2 - 8cm long and 2 - 4cm in diameter. Young tender flower spikes - cooked. The leaves are used for wrapping tamales and other foods, to which they impart flavour. Tubers are 6.6% protein on a dry matter basis.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 1

Other uses rating: Low (1/5). In former times, the plant played a more important role for making blankets, mattresses, pillows, baskets and umbrellas.

Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.

How it is grown

A plant mainly of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 31c, but can tolerate 16 - 35c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 700 - 2,800mm. Grows best in full sun or light shade. Prefers a moist, humus-rich, freely-draining soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5. Crops are produced in about 9 - 14 months from planting out the roots. Tuber yields of 2 - 15 tonnes/ha have been reported.

Propagating it: Seed - Division of tubers Cuttings of basal shoots.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Sweetcorn Root or Calathea allouia. Other Names: Agua bendita, Allelouia, Alleluia, Aria, Cocurito, Curcuma d'Amerique, Dale dale, Dali dali, Guinea arrowroot, Lairem, Laren, Leren, Lerenes, Lleren, Sweet corn root, Sweet-corm-root, Topee Tambu, Topi-tambu, Topinambour.

Synonyms

Maranta allouia Aubl.; Phrynium allouia Aubl.; Also as Allouya americana (Lamk.); Curcuma americana