Colocasia
| Colocasia | |
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| Colocasia esculenta | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Subfamily: | Aroideae |
| Tribe: | Colocasieae |
| Genus: | Colocasia Schott |
| Species | |
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See text. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Leucocasia Schott[1] |
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Colocasia is a genus of 25 or more species[2][3] of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical Polynesia and southeastern Asia.[4] Common names include Elephant-ear, Taro, Cocoyam, Dasheen, Chembu, and Eddoe. Elephant-ear and Cocoyam are also used for some other large-leaved genera in the Araceae, notably Xanthosoma and Caladium. The generic name is derived from the Greek word for Nelumbo nucifera, κολοκασιον (kolokasion).[5]
They are herbaceous perennial plants with a large rhizome on or just below the ground surface. The leaves are large to very large, 20–150 cm (7.9–59 in) long, with a sagittate shape. The elephant's-ear plant gets its name from the leaves, which are shaped like a large ear or shield.
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[edit] Selected species
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[edit] Formerly placed here
- Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb.) Zoll. & Moritzi (as C. neoguineensis Linden ex André)
- Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don (as C. indica (Lour.) Kunth)[6]
[edit] Ecology
Colocasia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Palpifer murinus and Palpifer sexnotatus.
[edit] Cultivation
C. esculenta and other members of the genus are cultivated as ornamental plants, or for their edible corms, a traditional starch staple in many tropical areas.
The plant can be grown in the ground or in large containers. They are grown outside year-round in subtropical and tropical areas. In temperate regions, they are planted out for the summer and dug up and stored over winter, dry and with ventilation to prevent fungal infection. They can be grown in almost any temperature zone as long as the summer is warm. Growth is best at temperatures between 20 to 30 °C (68 to 86 °F). The plants can be damaged if temperatures fall below 10 °C (50 °F) for more than a few days.
The root tuber is typically planted close to the surface. The first signs of growth will appear in 1 to 3 weeks. The adult plant will need a minimum of at least 1 m2 (11 sq ft) of space for good growth. They do best in compost-rich soil and in shade, but will grow reasonably well in average soil provided it is moisture-retentive. The plants should not be left to go dry for too long; if this does happen, the leaves will wilt; watering will allow the plant to recover if done before they get too dry. Periodic fertilisation (every 3 to 4 weeks) with a common plant fertiliser will increase yields.
[edit] Uses
The edible types are grown in the South Pacific and eaten like potatoes and known as taro, eddoe, and dasheen.
Poi, an Hawaiian dish, is made by boiling the starchy underground stem of the plant.[7]
In the Indian subcontinent both roots and leaves are used. In Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, and Udupi districts of Karnataka state, they are used to make Patrode. in Kerala state, the leaves are used to make chembila curry, and the roots are used in chembu puzhukku, a traditional accompaniment to Kerala congee. Various other recipes also exist locally. The stem and root are also used in the preparation of Ishtu and Moru curry. In TamilNadu, it is boiled, peeled and fried and used as a side-dish with rice. In Gujarat, they are used to make Patra. In Andhra cuisine, the roots are boiled, peeled, and fried as an entree with rice, or they may be boiled along with a gravy called "Pulusu", and the leaves are also used. In Nagaland, the leaves are dried, powdered, kneaded into a dough and baked into biscuits that are burnt and then dissolved in boiling water before being added into meat dishes to create a thick, flavourful dry gravy. In Cypriot cuisine they are used in a chicken or pork and vegetable stew.
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Colocasia |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Colocasia |
- ^ GRIN (October 5, 2007). "Colocasia Schott". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?2816. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ a b "Query Results for Genus Colocasia". IPNI. http://www.ipni.org:80/ipni/advPlantNameSearch.do?find_genus=Colocasia&find_rankToReturn=spec&output_format=normal&query_type=by_query&back_page=plantsearch. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
- ^ a b "Name - Colocasia Schott subordinate taxa". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/NameSubordinateTaxa.aspx?nameid=40012379. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
- ^ Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai‘i. Revised edition. Vol. 2. University of Hawaiʻi Press/Bishop Museum Press. pp. 1357.
- ^ Mabberley, D. J.. Mabberley's Plant-Book (3 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 203. ISBN 9780521820714. http://books.google.com/books?id=9RyKKHtwXUYC&.
- ^ a b GRIN. "Species in GRIN for genus Colocasia". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?2816. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ World Book Encyclopedia
