Colocasia
Colocasia
Colocasia (pronunciation: /kɒləˈkeɪʒə/) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to southeastern Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Some species are widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions.
Etymology
The name "Colocasia" is derived from the ancient Greek word "kolokasion", which in turn is presumed to be named after the philosopher Plato's student, Kolokasios. The plant was named by the botanist Carl Linnaeus.
Description
Colocasia plants are perennial, herbaceous plants with a large corm on or just below the ground surface. The leaves are large to very large, 20–150 cm (7.9–59.1 in) long, with a sagittate shape. The plant's inflorescence is a spadix enclosed by a spathe.
Species
There are several species of Colocasia, including:
- Colocasia esculenta, also known as taro
- Colocasia gigantea, also known as giant elephant ear or Indian taro
- Colocasia affinis, also known as piko taro
- Colocasia antiquorum, also known as dasheen
Uses
Colocasia species, particularly Colocasia esculenta, have many uses. They are grown for their edible corms, which are a staple food in many tropical regions. The leaves are also edible, although they must be cooked to remove toxins.
Related Terms
- Araceae, the family to which Colocasia belongs
- Corm, a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ
- Spadix, a type of inflorescence found in the Araceae family
- Spathe, a large, leaf-like bract that encloses the inflorescence
- Taro, a common name for several plants in the Araceae family that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, and petioles
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Colocasia
- Wikipedia's article - Colocasia
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