El Yunque National Forest

Poisonous Plants, Shrubs and Trees Found on the El Yunque National Forest

Photo © aoki2.si.gunma-u.ac.jp.

Elephant Ear, Arrowleaf (Eng.), Yautía Blanca (Sp.), Xanthosoma caracu (Bot.), Native. Tropical South America and the West Indies.

Description:

The Yautía Blanca plant is a herbaceous perennial, originally cultivated in Africa and now native to tropical South America and the West Indies. The big leaves resembling an elephants ear in shape are 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) long, light green in color and arrow-shaped with long leaf-stalks (petioles).This perennial can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) in height .The yellow or pinkish flesh of the corm (edible root) is dense and starchy. In addition to the root, the young leaves are also edible, but all edible parts of the plant must be cooked prior to eating in order to remove irritating alkaloid properties.

Poisonous characteristics:

All parts of this plant contain Calcium Oxylate cryatals; DO NOT EAT ANY PART OF THIS PLANT UNLESS IT HAS BEEN COOKED FIRST. Eating of any uncooked parts of this plant can cause BURNING AND SWELLING OF THE LIPS, MOUTH, TONGUE AND THROAT AND DIFFICULTY IN SPEECH, AND SEVERE STOMACH PAIN IF SWALLOWED.

When observing this plant:

Avoid eating any part of this plant unless it has been cooked. If accidentally eaten, induce vomiting and seek prompt medical assistance.

Where is this plant found in the El Yunque NF?

At the beginning of the El Portal Trail adjacent to the El Portal Rain Forest Center, and next to the Palo Colorado Interpretive Site Visitor Center, in the El Yunque National Forest’s Recreational Area.

Additional information:

• Tropical Vegetation Specialist
  USDA Forest Service
  El Yunque National Forest
  HC-01, Box 13490
  Rio Grande, PR 00745-9625
  787 888 1810
• Núñez-Meléndez, E., 1990, Plantas Venenosas de Puerto Rico y las que producen dermatitis, Ed. Universidad de Puerto Rico.
• Mowbray, A., 2005, El Portal Rain Forest Center Interpretive Site Guide, USDA Forest Service, El Yunque National Forest. Maps on pp 20-21 show locations of poisonous trees/plants/shrubs that may be encountered on the El Portal Trail.

(Data compiled by Alan Mowbray, El Yunque NF; please send any suggestions/comments to: amowbray@fs.fed.us)

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USDA Forest Service - El Yunque National Forest
Last Modified: Tuesday, 16 December 2008 at 14:14:31 EST