Colocasia esculenta 1634911 209703615 2008-05-02T14:52:49Z Mdebets 7541 [[:en:User:NicoV/Wikipedia Cleaner/Documentation|WikiCleaner]] 0.75 - Repairing link to disambiguation page - [[Wikipedia:Disambiguation pages with links|You can help!]] {{Taxobox | name = ''Colocasia esculenta'' | image = Songe-Réunion.JPG | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Liliopsida]] | ordo = [[Alismatales]] | familia = [[Araceae]] | genus = ''[[Colocasia]]'' | species = '''''C. esculenta''''' | binomial = ''Colocasia esculenta'' | binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L]].) [[Heinrich Wilhelm Schott|Schott]] }} '''''Colocasia esculenta''''' is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible [[corm]], a [[root vegetable]] known as [[Taro]]. It is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants.<ref>Country profile: Samoa, New Agriculturist Online [http://www.new-agri.co.uk/06-1/countryp.html new-agri.co], accessed June 12, 2006</ref> ==Description== ==Taxonomy== The specific epithet means "edible" in Latin. Taro is closely related to ''[[Xanthosoma]]'' and ''[[Caladium]]'', plants commonly grown as [[ornamental plant|ornamentals]], and like them it is sometimes loosely called '''elephant ear'''. ==Distribution and habitat== Taro was probably first native to the lowland [[wetland]]s of [[Malaysia]] (taloes). Estimates are that taro was in cultivation in wet tropical [[India]] before 5000 B.C., presumably coming from Malaysia, and from India further transported westward to ancient [[Egypt]], where it was described by [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] historians as an important crop. ==Uses== [[Image:Tarocorms.JPG|thumb|right]] Its primary use, however, is the consumption of its edible corm and leaves. In its raw form the plant is toxic due to the presence of [[calcium oxalate]],<ref>[http://www.weird-food.com/weird-food-vegetable.html Weird Foods from around the World<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxic_tarovine ASPCA: Animal Poison Control Center: Toxic Plant List<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> although the toxin is destroyed by cooking<ref>''The Morton Arboretum Quarterly'', Morton Arboretum/University of California, 1965, p. 36.</ref> and the presence of needle-shaped [[Ergastic substance|raphides]] in the plant cells. However it can be rendered palatable by cooking, or by steeping in cold water overnight. Corms of the small round variety are [[food processing|peeled and boiled]], sold either [[frozen food|frozen]], bagged in its own liquids, or [[canning|canned]]. The leaves are rich in [[vitamin]]s and [[dietary mineral|mineral]]s. It is also sold an ornamental [[aquatic plant]]. ==See also== *[[Aquatic plants]] ==Notes== {{commons|Colocasia esculenta}} {{reflist|2}} ==References== {{Unreferenced|date=April 2008}} [[Category:Araceae]] [[Category:Flora of the Maldives]]