Queensland Arrowroot

This plant grows readily here and we now look upon it as a potato substitute -potatoes grow ok but are way more effort than growing this plant

Binomial name : Canna edulis
Common name  : Queensland arrowroot

Description:

Large smooth green leaves to about 1-2m high with thick rhizomes underneath.  There is another variety called Indian shot (Canna indica) which has slightly redder coloured leaves that is also edible. It is a tough plant - drought and frost tolerant and pest free.




History :

Another food plant from the Incas with archeological evidence of human use from  3,500 years ago in Peru.  This plant was once a significant crop in Queensland -amongst other uses, the flour from it was used as  the basis of the well known Arrowroot biscuits. These had a fine texture and subtle flavour. There is a chapter in Lost crops of the Incas on this plant (pgs 27-37)  for more information.

Cooking and Usage:   

We harvest a few rhizomes as in the photo and  break it up into the individual parts. Any roots and loose fibrous material is cleaned off and then it is baked like potato.
Alternatively, it can be peeled and boiled. When the flesh is exposed to air it tends to discolour so we put it straight into water  after peeling to stop this. Taste wise it has a pleasant and slightly sweet flavour but is a bit more fibrous than potato.  No doubt some enterprising cook could make chips from them as well.

The leaves and stems are suitable for chickens (and also my Jade perch) as a green as it is at least 10% protein.


Nutritional:   

An excellent source of carbohydrate - about 70%, about 10% simple sugars ( glucose and sucrose), 1-3% protein  and some potassium.
Also a good source of dietary fibre.


Conclusion:

I have been planting this in several places on my property to have plenty available and do not plan  on planting potatoes again in the near future.
It has done really well in part of our property that gets some runoff from the lawn and plenty of sun. I recommend it as a food worth growing and eating.


Tom

update on the crow : I let him/her loose after a few days and (s)he is hanging around the yard either in the duck run or nearby. It cannot fly, has a blind eye seemingly ( opacified cornea) but eats  grain readily and had some biscuit today when we were having some afternoon tea. We also suspect it actually is an Australian raven rather than a crow.


ref :   Lost crops of the Incas   National Research Council
          Wild Herbs of Australia and New Zealand   Tim Low  Angus and      Robertson