Malanga

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Callaloo
• new cocoyam

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Caladium sagittifolium
• Caladium xanthorrhizon
• Xanthosoma poeppigii var. mafaffa
• Xanthosoma edule
• Xanthosoma monstruosum
• Xanthosoma panduriforme
• Xanthosoma ianthinum
• Xanthosoma maculatum
• Xanthosoma mafaffa
• Xanthosoma obtusilobum
• Xanthosoma roseum
• Xanthosoma wallisii
• Caladium edule
• Caladium mafaffa
• Caladium utile
• Arum xanthorrhizon
• Alocasia talihan
• Alocasia alboviolacea
• Xanthosoma peregrinum
• Xanthosoma atrovirens var. hybridum
• Xanthosoma nigrum
• Xanthosoma atrovirens var. kochii
• Xanthosoma atrovirens var. moritzii
• Xanthosoma atrovirens var. panduriforme
• Xanthosoma atrovirens
• Xanthosoma atrovirens var. versicolor
• Xanthosoma atrovirens var. appendiculatum
• Xanthosoma aureum
• Xanthosoma utile
• Xanthosoma violaceum
• Xanthosoma xantharrhizon
• Xanthosoma appendiculatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Aliasmaetales and the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Xanthosoma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Benin, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. The species also extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it can be found in Gabon. Furthermore, its range reaches the coastal areas of the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's importance within these tropical ecosystems.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Xanthosoma sagittifolium is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1100 m AMSL. It typically thrives in environments with a mean elevation of approximately 225 m AMSL, demonstrating a preference for specific landscape types. Its primary habitats include anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) as well as ombrophilous forests, which are equivalent to tropical rainforests (Floresta Ombrófila/Floresta Pluvial). This distribution indicates that the species is well-suited to both human-altered landscapes and the high-moisture, high-humidity conditions found within dense, rain-fed forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

225 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Xanthosoma sagittifolium is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons via its underground storage organs. In terms of its growth habit and structural strategy, the species is identified as a chamaphyte, a life form where the renewing buds are located close to the soil surface. This biological framework supports its ability to thrive in moist environments, utilizing its perennial nature to maintain long-term survival and regenerative capacity.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Xanthosoma sagittifolium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. The plant is a self-supporting species, lacking the climbing habits of lianas or vines, and maintains an average plant height of approximately 1.35 m. As a terrestrial organism, it does not function as an epiphyte (whether holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte) nor as an aquatic or semiaquatic species, instead thriving in land-based environments. Furthermore, it is an independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic behavior, relying on its own structural integrity rather than host support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.35 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Xanthosoma sagittifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light environments. The plant does not exhibit succulence, lacking the specialized enlarged parenchyma tissues typically used for significant water storage in succulent species, which implies a reliance on consistent soil moisture to maintain turgor pressure. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, thus necessitating the uptake of nitrogen directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Xanthosoma sagittifolium is characterized by a multifaceted approach to propagation, utilizing both natural and human-mediated mechanisms. The plant exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, incorporating various methods such as anemochory, zoochory, autochory, and hydrochory to facilitate the movement of its propagules across different environments. Furthermore, its dispersal is significantly influenced by anthropochory, where human activities and cultivation practices play a critical role in the intentional and unintentional distribution of the species. This combination of diverse natural dispersal strategies and human-driven movement ensures the plant's ability to colonize new habitats and maintain its presence in both wild and agricultural settings.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Xanthosoma sagittifolium has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, STARCH, oxalate, ALUMINUM, AMYLOPECTIN.

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of functional foods

oxalate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

AMYLOPECTIN

1. Journal of functional foods

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM OXALATE

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Xanthosoma sagittifolium has 253 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Absorbent, Acarifuge, Allergenic, Analgesic.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Xanthosoma sagittifolium has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bone diseases, gastritis, osteoporosis.

Bone diseases

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Gastritis

1. Journal of functional foods

Osteoporosis

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Xanthosoma sagittifolium has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include supernatant.

Supernatant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology