This is nothing but the rootstock of *Agave americana or A. sisalana*. The plant is uprooted in the stage of when it starts producing the flowering shoot (before flowering). At this stage the rootstock is (slightly) sweet due to enormous amount of starch stored for producing the robust inflorescence that happens once in its lifetime. Depend upon the plant size, the rootstock can be up to 1 m or at least 50 cm.
The local person collect this, add some cosmetics. He will wipe the center with cloth soaked in saccharine (u can't see that but) each time he makes a slice. So the slices will be very sweet. We have prepared a photo album of all steps involved in this. If the id/plant is correct, the credit goes to Dr. D. Narasimhan of Madras Christian College, Chennai who told us about the plant. Maerua oblongifolia is another plant that is linked with the local name 'boomi sakkarai' meaning 'sweet tuber in the earth'. But its root never attain this size. On Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 7:46 PM, Satish Phadke <[email protected]>wrote: > We used to see such things being sold roadside in Pune too during our > childhood. Less commonly seen now a days though. > > > On 8 February 2010 00:26, Pankaj Oudhia <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear Group Members, >> >> >> Please help in identification. Picture taken in Rajim Kumbh Mela, >> Chhattisgarh today. Sold as Ram Kanda. Sellers were from Nasik. >> >> Pankaj Oudhia >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "efloraofindia" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<indiantreepix%[email protected]> >> . >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "efloraofindia" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<indiantreepix%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. > -- With regards R. Vijayasankar FRLHT, Bangalore -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en.
