Edible: Rhizome, Root, Leaves, Leaf stalk, Corm, Vegetable
A very large herb. A taro family plant. It has a stout erect trunk up to 4 m tall. This has upright leaves which are arrow shaped. Leaves have round lobes at the bottom. The leaves are leathery and are often wavy around the edge. The secondary veins are not prominent. The leaf blade can be 1-1.2 m long. The leafy structure around the flower is yellow in the upper section. It forms a hood and drops off as the flower opens. The fruit are bright red berries. The corm is large, often curved and above the ground. It often has small cormels at the side. Brown trailing fibres of the leaf bases often hang from the stem. The leaves and petioles contain stinging crystals.
A tropical plant. It is widely distributed in open wetlands and along streams and in some types of humid forest. The plant grows wild from sea level up to 2600 m altitude in the tropics. Giant taro is a tropical plant and will not grow well below 10°C. It requires a well distributed rainfall and does not tolerate drought. Even though it grows along creek banks it cannot tolerate waterlogged soil. It is only used as food in a few coastal areas. Wild forms commonly seen growing are bitter and not used. It does not do well on atolls. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.
Common Names: Giant taro, Abis, Alu, Ape, 'Apea mamala, Babai, Bada gadri, Biga, Birah negeri, Birah, Bisech, Boafuredhdhe, Chara kanda, Conjevoi, Daun keladi, Desa-ala, Dhopa, Dranu, Elephant Ear, Fale, Fine, Gabi, Habarala, Hai yu, Henchala, Hensoksu, Honggu, Ka, Kadard, Kansalu, Kape, Karkalo, Kebei, Khajarikochai, Kiri ala, Kiri habarala, Kradat daeng, Lai, Maanaka, Mahuya-pein, Man kachu, Man kanda, Man kochu, Manaka, Mana saru, Mana thaso, Mankachu, Mankanda, Mankochu Marambu, Merukankilangu, Ohd, Oht, Onak, Pai, Papao-alaka, Papao-atolong, Papa sisa, Parum sembu, Pein-gyi, Piga, Puna, Qos tsov, Rata-ala, Sankhasaru, Saombia, Sente, Spoon Lily, Ta'amu, Tamu, Te kabe, Thagong, Totoa taco, Via, Via dalo, Via mila, Wod, Wot, Wut
Synonyms:
Alocasia alba Schott;
Alocasia indica (Lour.) Spach;
Alocasia metallica Schott;
Arum indicum Lour.;
Arum macrorrhizum L.;
Colocasia indica (Lour.) Kunth;
and several others