I was given a root of a plant named Black Magic. It looks like a climber, but I am not sure (roots are long and thin).Can anyone identify the plant for me in its bloom? A picture or just general info would be great.The name sounds very intriguing. Thank you
If its a root (ryzome, my spelling is probably wrong) then i would say it would more than likely be Colocasia or Taro. The "ryzome" is actually sweet potato eaten extensively in the Pacific Islands. I'm not sure if "Black Magic" is edible though Ed
Obviously, the edible rhizome of taro (Colocasia esculenta) is concerned. 'Black Magic' is a cultivar of that species. Regards, Harri Harmaja http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/harmaja/Index.htm
All portions of Colocasia esculenta including the roots, rhyzome, stems and leaves are eaten in Polynesian countries. If you've ever been to Hawaii and attended a Hawaiian fest, it is almost guaranteed you have eaten it. The species is highly variable and there are well over 100 known variations grown in Hawaii alone. Of interest to many is the fact, since it is an aroid, it has calcium oxalate crystals which are claimed by many websites to be a "deadly poison". Several scientific sites indicate cooking has absolutely nothing to do with making the oxalate crystals edible. So, I guess someone out to tell the people of Polynesia they shouldn't eat the stuff! Oh well, too late now. http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Colocasia esculenta large pc.html
Maybe the Polynesian's built up an immune system over time, or maybe there is such little quantities of it i the plant that it doesn't effect you Ed
The Hawaiians feed it to just about everyone who attends one of their feasts. I have a very good friend who is Hawaiian (he lives on the east coast of Oahu) and he laughs about all the things he reads on the internet saying oxalate crystals will kill you and your pets. Almost every tourist who goes to Hawaii eats it without a problem. They just don't know it is being fed to them. The truth is, and I got this from several physicians, this is way over blown on the internet. A very few people have a bad reaction to calcium oxalate crystals. It does taste bad, really bad to some. That's why a lot of people don't like spinach. Now don't go saying I'm recommending you go chew on your Philodendrons, I'm not! But spinach has one of the highest concentrations of oxalate crystals of any food. So I find it funny when I read on many websites you should not keep a Philodendron in your home because of the "poison". Vegetarians eat much more oxalate crystals that meat eaters simply because of their diet. One physician gave me a link which is included in the text at my link. If you are interested in some of the facts, and non-facts, of this compound you can read about it here: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Calcium oxalate crystals.html There are scientific sources quoted. There is one genus in the aroid group that needs to be pointed out due to the combination of chemical compounds found in the plant. That genus is the Dieffenbachia. Dieffenbachia has an unusually strong form of calcium oxalate crystals combined with other compounds which make it very unpleasant to taste! Don't taste it! It can literally make you loose the ability to talk and is quite painful. That is why it is called "Dumb Cane". At least one confirmed death has been documented. But the effects of that genus are quite different from Colocasia due to the combination of chemical compounds.
Sounds like this "poison" is a bit of a furphy. I don't think anyone has died from eating spinach!! Wasn't this debated on another thread?? Ed
I'm sure it has been Edleigh! I have young mothers in a panic send me email all the time telling me their child just took a bite of a Philodendron and they want to know if the child is going to die. Personally, I can't figure out why they email me rather than call their doctor! But if the truth is know, the child is crying because the plant tastes bad. I've tried it just to see what it is like. It is similar to chewing on small pieces of glass and tastes really bad. But as one of the physicians who helped me out pointed out, only a tiny number of cases end up in the hospital. To do any damage you have to eat a LOT of the stuff! Still, it is probably best to consult a physician if a child gets hold of the stuff.
