Colocasia esculenta
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{{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]]