Misplaced Pages

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70-741: It forms the boundary between the Bamiléké area and the Bamun area, and played a key role in the history of the Bamiléké people. The Noun River was dammed at Bamendjing in 1975 ( 5°41′55″N 10°30′03″E  /  5.69861°N 10.50083°E  / 5.69861; 10.50083 ) creating a reservoir with the same name. At its maximum the reservoir is 32 km (20 mi) long and 27 km (17 mi) wide. Its surface area varies between 150 km (57.9 mi) and 300 km (116 mi). The Noun River hosts hippopotamus that can be seen all year long, in

140-502: A raffia -pole frame into four square walls. Builders then stuff the resulting holes with grass and cover the whole building with mud. The thatched roof is typically shaped into a tall cone. In the present day, however, this type of construction is mostly reserved for barns, storage buildings, and gathering places for various traditional secret societies . Instead, modern Bamileke homes are made of bricks of either sun-dried mud or of concrete. Roofs are usually made of metal sheeting. During

210-540: A Bamileke king, called a Fon, is often represented by the elephant, buffalo, and leopard. Oral traditions proclaim that the Fon may transform into either an elephant or leopard whenever he chooses. An elephant mask, called a mbap mteng, has protruding circular ears, a human-like face, and decorative panels on the front and back that hang down to the knees and are covered overall in beautiful geometric beadwork, including triangular imagery. Isosceles triangles are prevalent, as they are

280-711: A Narrow Bantu language clustered closely with Grassfields speakers. Some of the Bamileke who speak Grassfields languages clustered closely with Narrow Bantu speakers. Within Northern and Grassfields groups, fine-structured analysis distinguished populations living less than 20 km from each other. The study also found that the Shum Laka population cluster closer to Central African rainforest hunter-gatherers than they do to Grassfields populations, and components from Northeast, Northwest, Eastern, Western and Central Africa that contributed to

350-402: A constant flow of water. About 300 varieties of kalo were originally brought to Hawaiʻi (about 100 remain). The kalo plant takes seven months to grow until harvest, so lo`i fields are used in rotation and the soil can be replenished while the loʻi in use has sufficient water. Stems are typically replanted in the lo`i for future harvests. One mythological version of Hawaiian ancestry cites

420-1363: A food staple in African , Oceanic , East Asian , Southeast Asian and South Asian cultures (similar to yams ). Taro is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants. The English term taro was borrowed from the Māori language when Captain Cook first observed Colocasia plantations in New Zealand in 1769. The form taro or talo is widespread among Polynesian languages : taro in Tahitian ; talo in Samoan and Tongan ; kalo in Hawaiian ; taʻo in Marquesan . All these forms originate from Proto-Polynesian * talo , which itself descended from Proto-Oceanic * talos (cf. dalo in Fijian ) and Proto-Austronesian * tales (cf. taleus in Sundanese & tales in Javanese ). However, irregularity in sound correspondences among

490-435: A man's death, all of his possessions typically go to a single, male heir. Polygamy (more specifically, polygyny ) is practiced, and some important individuals may have literally hundreds of wives. Marriages typically involve a bride price to be paid to the bride's family. It is argued that the Bamileke inheritance customs contributed to their success in the modern world: "Succession and inheritance rules are determined by

560-414: A price, however. There were often agreements with these other countries to exchange these precious luxury commodities for slaves, gold, oil, ivory and some types of fine woods. An analysis of Bamileke sculpture found that artists do not produce but create. For the Bamileke statues reliefs and paintings represent life forces that safeguard intangible attributes of death that allow them to live eternally. For

630-625: A single, very variable species, the correct name for which is Colocasia esculenta . The specific epithet , esculenta , means "edible" in Latin. Colocasia esculenta is thought to be native to Southern India and Southeast Asia , but is widely naturalised . Colocasia is thought to have originated in the Indomalayan realm , perhaps in East India , Nepal , and Bangladesh . It spread by cultivation eastward into Southeast Asia, East Asia and

700-453: A staple of the Fijian diet for centuries, and its cultural importance is celebrated on Taro Day . Its growth as an export crop began in 1993 when taro leaf blight devastated the taro industry in neighboring Samoa . Fiji filled the void and was soon supplying taro internationally. Almost 80% of Fiji's exported taro comes from the island of Taveuni where the taro beetle species Papuana uninodis

770-443: A system of strong family obligations prevented a drain on individual financial resources. Rather than spend all of the inheritance maintaining unproductive family members, the heir could, in the contemporary period, utilize his resources in more financially productive ways such as for savings and investment. [...] Finally, the system of inheritance, along with the large-scale migration resulting from population density and land pressures,

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840-704: Is 64% water, 35% carbohydrates , and contains negligible protein and fat (table). In a reference amount of 100 grams (3.5 oz), taro supplies 142 calories of food energy , and is a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value , DV) of vitamin B6 (25% DV), vitamin E (20% DV), and manganese (21% DV), while phosphorus and potassium are in moderate amounts (10–11% DV) (table). Raw taro leaves are 86% water, 7% carbohydrates, 5% protein, and 1% fat (table). The leaves are nutrient-rich, containing substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals , especially vitamin K at 103% of

910-592: Is a technique that is unique only to the Cameroon grasslands . Before they were colonized, popular beads were obtained from Sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria and were made of shells, nuts, wood, seeds, ceramic, ivory, animal bone, and metal. Colonization and trade routes with other countries in Europe and the Middle East introduced brightly colored glass beads as well as pearls, coral and rare stones like emeralds. These came at

980-578: Is absent. The Fijian taro industry on the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu faces constant damage from the beetles. The Fiji Ministry of Agriculture and the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) are researching pest control and instigating quarantine restrictions to prevent the spread of the pest. Taveuni now exports pest-damage-free crops. Kalo

1050-644: Is believed that they were domesticated independently multiple times, with authors giving possible locations as New Guinea , Mainland Southeast Asia , and northeastern India , based largely on the assumed native range of the wild plants. However, more recent studies have pointed out that wild taro may have a much larger native distribution than previously believed, and wild breeding types may also likely be indigenous to other parts of Island Southeast Asia. Archaeological traces of taro exploitation have been recovered from numerous sites, though whether these were cultivated or wild types can not be ascertained. They include

1120-567: Is called malanga . In the Philippines , the whole plant is usually referred to as gabi , while the corm is called taro . Taro is very popular flavor for milk tea in the country, and just as popular ingredient in several Filipino savory dishes such as sinigang . Other names include idumbe in the KwaZulu-Natal region, and boina in the Wolaita language of Ethiopia. In Tanzania , it

1190-578: Is called magimbi in the Swahili language . It is also called eddo in Liberia . Colocasia esculenta is a perennial , tropical plant primarily grown as a root vegetable for its edible, starchy corm . The plant has rhizomes of different shapes and sizes. Leaves are up to 40 by 25 centimetres ( 15 + 1 ⁄ 2 by 10 inches) and sprout from the rhizome. They are dark green above and light green beneath. They are triangular-ovate, sub-rounded and mucronate at

1260-420: Is considered as the spiritual, political, judicial and military leader. The chief is also considered the 'father' of the chiefdom. He thus has great respect from the population. The successor of the 'father' is chosen among his children. The successor's identity is typically kept secret until the fon's death. The fon typically has 9 ministers and several other advisers and councils. The ministers are in charge of

1330-673: Is locally known as gölevez and mainly grown on the Mediterranean coast, such as the Alanya district of Antalya Province and the Anamur district of Mersin Province . In Macaronesia this plant has become naturalized, probably as a result of the Portuguese discoveries and is frequently used in the macaronesian diet as an important carbohydrate source . In the southeastern United States , this plant

1400-406: Is not allowed when a bowl of poi is "open". It is also disrespectful to fight in front of an elder and one should not raise their voice, speak angrily, or make rude comments or gestures. A loʻi is a patch of wetland dedicated to growing kalo . Hawaiians have traditionally used irrigation to produce kalo. Wetland fields often produce more kalo per acre than dry fields. Wetland-grown kalo need

1470-450: Is one cause driving down harvests from the 1948 high of 14.1 million pounds (6,400 t), but more recently, the decline has resulted from pests and diseases. A non-native apple snail ( Pomacea canaliculata ) is a major culprit along with a plant rot disease traced to a species of fungus in the genus Phytophthora that now damages kalo crops throughout Hawaii. Although pesticides could control both problems to some extent, pesticide use in

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1540-550: Is one of the internal incentives that accounts for Bamileke success in the nontraditional world". Donald L. Horowitz also attributes the economic success of the Bamileke to their inheritance customs, arguing that it encouraged younger sons to seek their own living abroad. He wrote in Ethnic groups in conflict : "Primogeniture among the Bamileke and matrilineal inheritance among the Minangkabau of Indonesia have contributed powerfully to

1610-570: Is recognized as an invasive species . Many populations can be commonly found growing near drain ditches and bayous in Houston , Texas. Taro is one of the most ancient cultivated crops. Taro is found widely in tropical and subtropical regions of South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea, and northern Australia and in Maldives. Taro is highly polymorphic , making taxonomy and distinction between wild and cultivated types difficult. It

1680-458: Is supplied by rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Taro is one of the few crops (along with rice and lotus ) that can be grown under flooded conditions. Flooded cultivation has some advantages over dry-land cultivation: higher yields (about double), out-of-season production (which may result in higher prices), and weed control (which flooding facilitates). Like most root crops , taro and eddoes do well in deep, moist or even swampy soils where

1750-471: Is taro's Hawaiian name. The local crop plays an important role in Hawaiian culture and mythology . Taro is a traditional staple of the native cuisine of Hawaii . Some of the uses for taro include poi , table taro (steamed and served like a potato), taro chips, and lūʻau leaf (to make laulau ). In Hawaii, kalo is farmed under either dryland or wetland conditions. Taro farming there is challenging because of

1820-413: Is used; for instance, corms with 5 to 10 centimeters of petiole remaining are exported from Fiji to New Zealand in wooden boxes. They are then transported via refrigerated container, chilled to around 5° Celsius. The corms can be maintained for up to six weeks in good condition; most good-quality corms may even be replanted and grown by the consumer, thanks to the species’ prolific nature and hardiness. In

1890-620: The Caribbean and West Indies , taro is known as dasheen in Trinidad and Tobago , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica . The leaves are known as aruiya ke bhaji by Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians . In Portuguese , it is known simply as taro , as well as inhame , inhame-coco , taioba , taiova , taioba-de-são-tomé or matabala ; in Spanish , it

1960-592: The Cook Islands and surpasses all other crops in terms of land area devoted to production. The prominence of the crop there has led it to be a staple of the population's diet. Taro is grown across the country, but the method of cultivation depends on the nature of the island it is grown on. Taro also plays an important role in the country's export trade. The root is eaten boiled, as is standard across Polynesia . Taro leaves are also eaten, cooked with coconut milk, onion, and meat or fish. Taro ( dalo in Fijian ) has been

2030-541: The Niah Caves of Borneo around 10,000 years ago, Ille Cave of Palawan , dated to at least 11,000 year ago; Kuk Swamp of New Guinea , dated to between 8250 BC and 7960 BC; and Kilu Cave in the Solomon Islands dated to around 28,000 to 20,000 years ago. In the case of Kuk Swamp, there is evidence of formalized agriculture emerging by about 10,000 years ago, with evidence of cultivated plots, though which plant

2100-546: The Pacific Islands ; westward to Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean Basin ; and then southward and westward from there into East Africa and West Africa , where it spread to the Caribbean and Americas . Taro was probably first native to the lowland wetlands of Malaysia , where it is called taloes . In Australia, C. esculenta var. aquatilis is thought to be native to the Kimberley region of Western Australia ;

2170-480: The Roman Empire . Today it is known as kolokasi ( Kολοκάσι ). It is usually fried or cooked with corn, pork, or chicken, in a tomato sauce in casserole. "Baby" kolokasi is called "poulles": after being fried dry, red wine and coriander seed are added, and then it is served with freshly squeezed lemon. Lately, some restaurants have begun serving thin slices of kolokasi deep fried, calling them "kolokasi chips". In

Noun River (Cameroon) - Misplaced Pages Continue

2240-668: The Southern Bantoid branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Most Bamiléké historical narratives detail an origin along the Nile River in what is now Sudan. A survey examining the methods and instruments of communication among the Bamilekes show a common origin with populations along the Nile. Oral tradition collected by Alexis Maxime Feyou de Happy and his son, Joseph, suggested that

2310-435: The loʻi is banned because of the opportunity for chemicals to migrate quickly into streams, and then eventually the sea. Important aspects of Hawaiian culture revolve around kalo . For example, the newer name for a traditional Hawaiian feast, the lūʻau , comes from kalo . Young kalo tops baked with coconut milk and chicken meat or octopus arms are frequently served at luaus . By ancient Hawaiian custom, fighting

2380-417: The 10-year median production of kalo to be about 6.1 million pounds (2,800 t). However, 2003 taro production was only 5 million pounds (2,300 t), the lowest since record-keeping began in 1946. The previous low (1997) was 5.5 million pounds (2,500 t). Despite generally growing demand, production was even lower in 2005—only 4 million pounds, with kalo for processing into poi accounting for 97.5%. Urbanization

2450-837: The Adamawa province of Cameroon. In the 17th century , the Bamiléké migrated further south and west under the pressure of the Chamba and Fulani people . When Cameroon was colonized, the British granted status and a certain amount of control to traditional authorities, such as the Fon . This was due to a colonial policy known as indirect rule. On the other hand, the Germans and French looked at Fons with contempt and were often suspicious of them. According to research compiled in The Historical Dictionary of

2520-402: The Bamileke sculptors are intermediaries who are charged with realizing God's vision through the depiction of symbols and signs. Another study performed by Djoukwo and Wang found that pottery creation among the Bamiléké is used as a form of art therapy. The Bamileke trace their ancestry, inheritance and succession through the male line, and children belong to the fondom of their father. After

2590-456: The Bamileke. They represent power, strength and bravery, and may also be associated with the Fon. Beadwork is an essential element of Bamileke art and distinguishes it from other regions of Africa. It is an art form that is highly personal in that no two pieces are alike and are often used in dazzling colors that catch the eye. They may be an indication of status based on what kinds of beads are used. Beadwork utilized all over on wooden sculptures

2660-628: The Bamiléké people through genetic testing . In one genetic study, Bamileke-related genetic variations were found throughout Central, Southern and East Africa . The researchers caution the assumption that the Bamileke are the source of the Bantu migration because the genetic variations in the region could have been very different 4000 years ago. The study found that the genetic structure of populations in Cameroon are not completely defined by language groups. The Yemba who are Grassfields people clustered closely to Northern Bantoid speakers. The Mbo who speak

2730-464: The DV (table). Taro is a food staple in African , Oceanic and South Asian cultures. People usually consume its edible corm and leaves. The corms, which have a light purple color due to phenolic pigments, are roasted, baked or boiled. The natural sugars give a sweet, nutty flavor. The starch is easily digestible, and since the grains are fine and small it is often used for baby food. In its raw form,

2800-559: The Republic of Cameroon , the "Bamiléké have a reputation of being excellent farmers and business-persons. While they have become a significant factor in the national economy, their success has also generated some jealousy and resentment, especially among the original inhabitants of areas where Bamiléké migration occurred." A number of Black people across the Americas , such as Erykah Badu and Jessica Williams , have traced their lineage back to

2870-424: The annual rainfall exceeds 2,500 mm (100 in). Eddoes are more resistant to drought and cold. The crop attains maturity within six to twelve months after planting in dry-land cultivation and after twelve to fifteen months in wetland cultivation. The crop is harvested when the plant height decreases and the leaves turn yellow. Taro generally commands a higher market price in comparison to other root crops, so

Noun River (Cameroon) - Misplaced Pages Continue

2940-428: The apex, with the tip of the basal lobes rounded or sub-rounded. The petiole is .8–1.2 metres ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 –4 feet) high. The path can be up to 25 cm (10 in) long. The spadix is about three fifths as long as the spathe , with flowering parts up to 8 millimetres ( 3 ⁄ 8  in) in diameter. The female portion is at the fertile ovaries intermixed with sterile white ones. Neuters grow above

3010-784: The arrival of the Bamiléké in Western Cameroon occurred in multiple waves with two primary routes. The first route originated in the North between the Lake Tchad area and the Nile Valley. The second route originated in Nigeria around the Cross River area. Anthropologists G. Spedini and C. Bailly theorized that the Bamileke descend from the Ndobo, " Sudanic savanna dwellers who migrated into Western Cameroon from

3080-685: The cognate forms in Austronesian suggests that the term may have been borrowed and spread from an Austroasiatic language perhaps in Borneo (cf. proto-Mon-Khmer * t 2 rawʔ , Khasi shriew , Khmu sroʔ , Mlabri kwaaj ,...). The Ancient Greek word κολοκάσιον ( kolokasion , lit. 'lotus root') is the origin of the Modern Greek word kolokasi ( κολοκάσι ), the word kolokas in both Greek and Turkish , and qulqas ( قلقاس ) in Arabic . It

3150-405: The colonial period, parts of the Bamileke region adopted Christianity , though some of them practice Islam . Today, the dominant form of worship is still ancestral with most Bamileke practicing Veneration of the dead . Death is always met with mystery, and the family is required to turn the body over to an examiner to determine the cause of death. After this is completed, the family must gather at

3220-710: The common variety esculenta is now naturalised and considered an invasive weed in Western Australia, the Northern Territory , Queensland and New South Wales . In Europe, C. esculenta is cultivated in Cyprus and it's called Colocasi, (Κολοκάσι in Greek) and it is certified as a PDO product. It is also found in the Greek island of Ikaria and cited as a vital source of food for the island during WW II. In Turkey, C. esculenta

3290-478: The corms are usually stored at cooler temperatures, ranging from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius and maintained at a relative humidity of 80% to 90%. For packaging, the corms are commonly placed in polypropylene bags or ventilated wooden crates to minimize condensation and 'sweating.' During export, a weight allowance of approximately 5% above the net weight is included to account for potential shrinkage during transit. For commercial shipping and export purposes, refrigeration

3360-483: The crowning of the new fon. The Council of Ministers, also known as the Council of Notables, is called Kamveu . In addition, a "queen mother" or mafo was an important figure for some fons in the past. Below the fon and his advisers lie several ward heads, each responsible for a particular portion of the village. Some Bamileke groups also recognize sub-chiefs, or fonte . Traditional homes are constructed by first erecting

3430-599: The deceased were conferred upon the heir subject to the approval of the chief, and, in the event of financial inheritance, the heir was not obliged to share this with other family members. The ramifications of this are significant. First, dispossessed family members were not automatically entitled to live off the wealth of the heir. Siblings who did not share in the inheritance were, therefore, strongly encouraged to make it on their own through individual initiative and by assuming responsibility for earning their livelihood. Second, this practice of individual responsibility in contrast to

3500-574: The difficulties of accessing fresh water. Kalo is usually grown in "pond fields" known as loʻi . Typical dryland or "upland" varieties (varieties grown in watered but not flooded fields) are lehua maoli and bun long , the latter widely known as "Chinese taro". Bun long is used for making taro chips. Dasheen (also called "eddo") is another dryland variety cultivated for its corms or as an ornamental plant. A contemporary Hawaiian diet consists of many tuberous plants, particularly sweet potato and kalo. The Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service determined

3570-589: The early 1970’s, one of the earliest taro breeding programs was initiated in the Solomon Islands to create cultivars that were resistant to taro leaf blight. After taro leaf blight was introduced to Samoa in 1993, another breeding program was initiated. In this program Asian varieties that were resistant to TLB were used. The breeding program helped restore the taro export industry in Samoa. Corm yield and corm quality appear to be negatively correlated. In order to produce

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3640-673: The event that a skull is not well preserved, a special ritual must be performed that consists of the pouring out of libation . The Bamileke are known for elaborate elephant masks used in dance ceremonies or funerals to show the importance of the deceased person. During the homegoing celebration of King Njoya's mother in 1913, elephant masks were worn by those in attendance. Masquerades are an integral part of Bamileke culture and expression. Colorful, beaded masks are donned at special events such as funerals, important palace festivals and other royal ceremonies. The masks are performed by men and aim to support and enforce royal authority. The power of

3710-648: The females, and are rhomboid or irregular orium lobed, with six or eight cells. The appendage is shorter than the male portion. Taro is related to Xanthosoma and Caladium , plants commonly grown ornamentally , and like them, it is sometimes loosely called elephant ear. Similar taro varieties include giant taro ( Alocasia macrorrhizos ), swamp taro ( Cyrtosperma merkusii ), and arrowleaf elephant's ear ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium ). 18th-century Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus originally described two species, Colocasia esculenta and Colocasia antiquorum , but many later botanists consider them both to be members of

3780-457: The genomes of Grassfields groups. Bamiléké settlements follow a well-organized and structured pattern. Houses of family members are often grouped together and surrounded by small fields. Men typically clear the fields, but it is largely women who work them. Most work is done with tools such as machetes and hoes. Staple crops include cocoyams , groundnuts and maize . Bamiléké settlements are organized as chiefdoms. The chief, or fon or fong

3850-473: The home. Each member must step up to the totem and swear that they were not involved in the death of the loved one. It is believed that if someone in the room really is the murderer, the totem will trap their spirit forever. To satisfy the Ancestors, the person believed to be a murderer must perform a special ritual that consists of the pouring out of libation during the burial ceremony. The family will then gather

3920-472: The irritating raphides present in the other plants. Taro is also identified as one of the staples of Micronesia , from archaeological evidence dating back to the pre-colonial Latte Period (c. 900 – 1521 AD), indicating that it was also carried by Micronesians when they colonized the islands. Taro pollen and starch residue have also been identified in Lapita sites, dated to between 1100 BC and 550 BC. Taro

3990-445: The known symbol of the leopard. Beadwork, shells, bronze, and other precious embellishments on masks elevate the mask's status. On occasion, a Fon may permit members of the community to perform in an elephant mask along with a leopard skin, indicating a statement of wealth, status, and power being associated with this masquerade. Buffalo masks are also very popular and present at most functions throughout Grassland societies, including

4060-470: The north." According to some Bamiléké oral traditions, they are descendants of a Mbum princess named Wouten (also called Betaka) who helped establish the Tikar fondom sometime in the 13th century after being expelled from Ngan Ha, the capital of Mbum following a succession dispute. The Mbum who migrated to their current location from Northern Cameroon are the ancestors of all Grassfields people and now reside in

4130-411: The plant is toxic due to the presence of calcium oxalate , and the presence of needle-shaped raphides in the plant cells. However, the toxin can be minimized and the tuber rendered palatable by cooking, or by steeping in cold water overnight. Corms of the small, round variety are peeled and boiled, then sold either frozen , bagged in their own liquids, or canned . Taro is the pre-eminent crop of

4200-493: The principle of patrilineal descent. According to custom, the eldest son is the probable heir, but a father may choose any one of his sons to succeed him. An heir takes his dead father's name and inherits any titles held by the latter, including the right to membership in any societies to which he belonged. And, until the mid-1960s, when the law governing polygamy was changed, the heir also inherited his father's wives--a considerable economic responsibility. The rights in land held by

4270-485: The propensity of males from both groups to migrate out of their home region in search of opportunity". Here is a list of notable Bamileke or people of Bamileke descent: Bamileke Dance Groups Taro Taro ( / ˈ t ɑːr oʊ , ˈ t ær -/ ; Colocasia esculenta ) is a root vegetable . It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms , leaves, stems and petioles . Taro corms are

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4340-530: The quality control measures throughout the production process are rather essential. The sizes found in most markets are 1–2 kg and 2–3 kg. The best size for packaging and for consumers is 1–2 kg. To guarantee the product meets the expected high standards upon reaching the consumer, there are some common grading standards for fresh corms: Due to the high moisture content of the corms, and the plant’s natural love of humidity, mold and disease can easily develop, causing root rot or decay. To prolong their shelf lives,

4410-434: The taro plant as an ancestor to Hawaiians. Legend joins two siblings of high and divine rank: Papahānaumoku ("Papa from whom lands are born", or Earth mother) and Wākea (Sky father). Together they create the islands of Hawaii and a beautiful woman, Hoʻohokukalani (The Heavenly one who made the stars). The story of kalo begins when Wakea and Papa conceived their daughter, Hoʻohokukalani. Daughter and father then conceived

4480-731: The uniform fresh healthy corms that the market desires, early maturing cultivars with a growth period of 5 to 7 months can be used. Cultivars grown in the Pacific regions produce good quality corms, as a result of selecting for corm quality and yield. However, the genetic bases of these cultivars is very narrow. Asian cultivars have agriculturally undesirable traits (such as suckers and stolon), but appear to be more genetically diverse. There needs to be an international exchange of taro germplasm with reliable quarantine procedures. There are thought to be 15,000 varieties of C. esculenta . Currently there are 6,000 accession from various institutes from across

4550-468: The wet earth and shape it into a circle. This is seen as a metaphorical skull of the deceased, blessed by libation. The Bamileke also believe that the Ancestor's spirit still remains within the actual skulls of the Ancestors as well, so they keep possession of them. The oldest male in the family keeps the skulls of both male and female ancestors in a dwelling that the family built and a diviner has blessed. In

4620-602: The wild parts of the river, along with many birds, such as the palm nut vulture , the bee-eater , the hammerkop , and the kingfisher . This article related to a river in Cameroon is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bamil%C3%A9k%C3%A9 English , The Bamiléké are a group of 90 closely related peoples who inhabit the Western High Plateau of Cameroon . According to Dr John Feyou de Hapy, Bamiléké means people of faith. The Bamileke languages are Grassfields languages that belong to

4690-630: The world. The INEA (International Network for Edible Aroids) already has a core sample of 170 cultivars that have been distributed. These cultivars are maintained in vitro in a germplasm centre in Fiji, which is considered safer and cheaper than field conservation. Taro exists as a diploid (2n=28) and a triploid (3n=42). Naturally occurring triploids in India were found to have significantly better yields. There have been attempts to artificially make triploids by crossing diploids with artificial tetraploids Cooked taro

4760-573: Was borrowed by Latin as colocasia , thus becoming the genus name Colocasia . Taro is among the most widely grown species in the group of tropical perennial plants that are colloquially referred to as "elephant ears", when grown as ornamental plants . Other plants with the same nickname include certain species of related aroids possessing large, heart-shaped leaves, usually within such genera as Alocasia , Caladium , Monstera , Philodendron , Syngonium , Thaumatophyllum , and Xanthosoma . In Cyprus, Colocasia has been in use since

4830-416: Was cultivated remains unknown. Taro were carried into the Pacific Islands by Austronesian peoples from around 1300 BC, where they became a staple crop of Polynesians , along with other types of "taros", like Alocasia macrorrhizos , Amorphophallus paeoniifolius , and Cyrtosperma merkusii . They are the most important and the most preferred among the four, because they were less likely to contain

4900-406: Was later spread to Madagascar as early as the 1st century AD. In 2022, world production of taro was 18 million tonnes , led by Nigeria with 46% of the total (table). Taro has the fifth largest production among root and tuber crops worldwide. The average yield of taro is around 7 tons per hectare. Taro can be grown in paddy fields where water is abundant or in upland situations where water

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