Alocasia macrorrhizos 'var. macrorrhiza' (L.) G.Don

• Region

  Oceania

• Country

  Palau

• State/Province

  Koror

• Locality

  Rock Islands. German Lighthouse. On trail to lighthouse.

• Elevation

  Alt. 20 - 200 m. (66 - 656 ft.)

• Coordinates

  7.259, 134.45

• Distribution

  Map all specimens of this taxon

IMAGED
00205428
BOTANICAL
New York Botanical Garden
Institute of Economic Botany
Plants and People of Palau
Araceae
Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don var.
macrorrhiza
cL't. Ann
Republic of Palau, Koror State, Rock Islands,
German Lighthouse.
N 07°15.540'	E 134°26.977'
N.V. Bisechrabelau/Bisech
Disturbed forest in rock islands
Herb to 30cm tall; sterile
Use:
Food - Edible tuber but it must be cooked for at least 2
days because it is wild not like regular taro
[kukau](Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott). (DO)
Legend/anecdote - Story about Choi (located in the state
of Ngarrard, Palau) and how the Japanese soldiers were
monitoring the roads at the time. Men from Choi would
carry the kukau from their village and walk to deliver the
taro to other relatives in other villages. The Japanese would
stop the men and take the taro from them for their own use.
After this had happened many times, the men of Choi got
tired of the Japanese taking their food and going to their
relatives empty handed. They switched from the kukau to
the bisech. They walked on the same road the next time they
went in that direction, and the Japanese did the same thing.
They continued walking to the other villages. On their next
journey to the other villages the Japanese were all holding
their mouths with one hand and the other hand was
motioning the men to continue on with their bundles of the
kukau without searching them or their knowledge that it
was the regular harvested taro. (D.O.)
Comments: On trail to lighthouse 20 - 200 m
elevation. A wild bisech that makes mouth itchy if
eaten, and is thus not edible (RS). There is a different
type of bisech in Palau that is used for titles. (DO).
#4515 Michael Balick, Stephen Dahmer, Yadana Desmond,
Ann Kitalong, Christopher Kitalong, Roberta Lee, Nicholas
Penna, Kiblas Soaladaob.
Additional interviews (August 09, 2007): Diladelbai
Raphaela Sumang (RS); (August 13,2007): Rechiuang
Demei Otobed. (DO)
August 8,2007
A research collaboration of the Belau National Museum, the
Community of Oikull, and The New York Botanical Garden
Institute of Economic Botany Fieldwork funded by The V.
Kann Rasmussen Foundation.
00205428