Arracacha

Description

Arracacia xanthorrhiza is a root vegetable originally from the Andes, somewhat intermediate between the carrot and celery. Its starchy taproot is a popular food item in South America where it is a major commercial crop.The name arracacha (or racacha) was borrowed into Spanish from Quechua raqacha,and is used in the Andean region. The plant is also called apio or apio criollo ("Creole celery") in Venezuela, zanahoria blanca in Ecuador, virraca in Peru, and mandioquinha ("little cassava") or batata-baroa ("baronness potato") in Brazil. It is sometimes called white carrot in English, but that name properly belongs to white varieties of the common carrot.