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Taro root

Colocasia esculenta

Photo by keithp2012
Published on Project Noah
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40.7015, -73.3517

Field Notes

Description:

Taro is a common name for the edible corms and tubers sold of several plants in the Araceae family, otherwise known as "Elephant Ear" plants. Taro is native to South India and Southeast Asia. It is a perennial, tropical plant primarily grown as a root vegetable for its edible starchy corm, and as a leaf vegetable. It is a food staple in African, Oceanic and South Indian cultures and is believed to have been one of the earliest cultivated plants.

Habitat:

Garden, preferably near running water like pond or near stream bank (stagnant water is no good and will rot base). Also can be planted on dry land but watered almost daily and have moist soil. In cold regions root must be dug up and stored in dark room until danger of frost passed then it can be planted outside again.

Notes:

This was grown from Taro root found in Supermarket. Instead of eating it I was happier growing it as an ornamental plant.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

The photos I took were of plants at a public lake, clearly planted on purpose in marshy drainage areas ... so I guess they could be either, although I think I got the basic ID correct. I really want to go pull one up, to see the roots, but I don't think the local park rangers would dig it. Just a guess!
Until last year I had only thought it was an ornamental too, until I found out what Taro was and why the tuber was sold to eat! The ones to eat are from wild plants, not cultivars like sold at garden centers, which are different colors,shapes, and sizes.
Hi, Keithp2012 ... met the taro plant, myself, just last weekend. About blew me away when I made the ID, because I had known it only as an ornamental plant! It was a cool moment of discovery. Really neat that you grew it yourself.
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 4, 2013

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