Species of herbaceous perennial, probably a native of Guyana and western Brazil, cultivated throughout the West Indies, Southeast Asia, Australia, and South Africa. Its creeping rootstock has fleshy tubers harvested as starch; its many-branched stem reaches 1.5 m (5-6 feet) in height. Plants are harvested when the tubers are gorged with starch, just before the plant's dormant season. The roots are peeled and then grated in water. The resulting mixture is dried to a powder and purified by several washings.
