Colocasia Schott

1 species native Aust.; Qld, WA, NT

*Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

Perennial herb up to 1.5 m high, with a stout tuberous rhizome. Leaves ovate, ± cordate, peltate, up to 60 cm long; the principal veins pinnate; the basal veins pedate; the smaller veins reticulate, confluent. Petioles often purplish. Base of the spathe persistent, confluent, oblong, c. 4 cm long; the lamina c. 15 cm long or more. Spadix much shorter than the spathe. Ovary 1-locular, with numerous ovules. Wet places. Introd. from Oceania and northern Aust. Cultivated in tropical countries for the edible rhizome. Taro