Spooky Tropical Tuber

I bought a couple of weird tubers at an Indian store a few months ago. They were about 4" across and high, and cleft into two sections, each one slightly pointed.

For months they have done nothing, despite living a soft life of luxury in my heated propagator.

When I got back from holiday last night, however, I discovered that one of them has sent up a bizarre, purple, twisted, tape-like shoot about 10" long so far. No leaves, though I think there may be a few developing at the end of the shoot.

Any idea what it could be? I bought it as an edible tuber so that narrows it down a bit. It's not a sweet potato or a colocasia. Looks like it may be intending to be a climber. Any Asian/West Indian gardeners out there who may be able to shed some light on the matter?

 

Sounds fascinating, M! Any chance of a photo? Wanna look, you see.....!!

 

Hi, Madahhlia. Could it be the Cushcush? The description here of the tuber sounds similar to what you say.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MV057

 

I recently bought a chayote, which is a green pear shape with a cleft in where the stalk attached:
http://images.google.co.uk/images?svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&q=chayote&btnG=Search+Images

It is sprouting well, sounds something like yours but pale green shoots and small leaves developing. definitly a climber as it has tendrils.
There are some strange vegetables out there! It is definitely a fruit rather than a tuber so LOL's is more likely.

[ 05. June 2007, 12:51 PM: Message edited by: Liz ]

 

Sounds interesting, a picture would be good.

 

Lots of colocasia types to be had via tubers from supermarkets. I believe they call them eddoes ?

Show us a picture Madahhlia :D

 

Hi there!

Well done, Lady of Leisure, I think you've got it! That was inspired, how did you work it out? At least, the description is right, I can't find a picture anywhere. Maybe I'll photograph it tomorrow.

I knew it wasn't a chayote, those are a fruit, I think the plants are vaguely cucumber-like. I've got lots of eddoes in the greenhouse - they unfurl a nice big leaf from a bud.

Now I'm looking forward to an 11 month wait for a crop after it's pulled my trellis down.

 

Hi, Mad ... I lived in Alabama for 14 years and yams (candied) are THE veg ...

The Portuguese/Brazilian name "cara doce" means sweet face so it will taste like a yam.

[ 06. June 2007, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]

 

I'm hoping LoL will be able to give me further advice on cushcush yams.The spooky purple tape has now extended to about 4 feet long and is flopping disconsolately all over the greenhouse! What should I do with it? Can it go outside? Will it climb up a cane? Will it ever get any leaves? I have two of them but the other is still quite small.


I would post a picture but don't know how. There doesn't seem to be a nice, convenient "Insert picture" option!

 

Would love to see this creature!
Posting a photo instructions by MD:
http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=32;t=000001
Very clear! You can use most of the free image hosting sites if you are signed in to them.
It is in the New Members topic.

 

Hi, Mad. If you open up the link I gave you above, it gives you instructions on culture, harvesting and uses for the Cushcush.

It seems like it will get 6-9 feet tall so you will need a very strong trellis for it. You should get large leaves on it but I don't know when.

I would think it would be fine outside in a sheltered sunny spot but it may be best staying in your greenhouse as it cannot tolerate frost and you won't be able to harvest for 10-11 months after you planted it.

As I have never grown one, I can't give any first-hand advice.

 

By looking it up with it's Latin name, Dioscorea trifida, I found some additional information ...

http://www.tropilab.com/napi.html

 

Well, here goes. It'll be a miracle if it works. The purple tape is at least 4 times longer than that now. And I couldn't resist throwing in the other stuff!


http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z168/Madahlia/IMAG1084.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z168/Madahlia/IMAG1084.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z168/Madahlia/IMAG1084.jpg

 

Ah. Well, some of it worked, anyway.

 

Try again.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z168/Madahlia/IMAG1087.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z168/Madahlia/IMAG1084.jpg