[a. Tupi taña, taya, Carib taya.] A species of Caladium or Xanthosoma (X. sagittifolium), N.O. Araceæ, cultivated in Brazil, the West Indies, and tropical Africa, for its farinaceous tuberous root; it is closely allied to the EDDOES.
[1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, IV. 1310. There are certaine Taiaobas, that are like Cabiges.]
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 332. The purple Cocco and Tannier.
1766. J. Bartram, Jrnl., 10 Feb., in W. Stork, Acc. E. Florida (1790), 32. Breakfasted on a mess of tanniers, a species of eddo.
1792. Mar. Riddell, Voy. Madeira, 84. The arum virginiana, or tannier, and the arum esculentum, or eddoe, are two excellent farinaceous vegetables.
1871. Kingsley, At Last, vi. His patch of provision-ground … gives him … yam, tania, cassava, and fruit too.
1898. L. Crookall, Brit. Guiana, vi 83. Then there are white yams and buck yams,… tannias and eddoes.
