ɪt wʌz plˈæntᵻd baɪ ðə mˈaɪə sˌɪvɪlᵻzˈeɪʃən tˈuː θˈaʊzənd jˈɪɹz ɐɡˈoʊ ænd ɪt hˈæzbiːn klˈeɪmd ɪn sˈɛvɹəl pˌʌblɪkˈeɪʃənz baɪ dˈɛnɪs ˈiː. pjˈʊlɛstən tə hɐvbɪn ɐ stˈeɪpəl fˈuːd ɪnðə mˈaɪə dˈaɪət.
It was planted by the Maya civilization 2000 years ago and it has been claimed in several publications by Dennis E. Puleston to have been a staple food in the Maya diet.