While taro is the most widely grown aroid throughout the Pacific , there are several related crops that are also grown in the region and which may be more important in certain locations.
What does taro come from?
Taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) has been cultivated for thousands of years. Originating in Asia , taro is now found in tropical and subtropical regions where it was historically a major dietary staple on the islands of the Pacific, especially Hawaii, New Zealand, and west to Indonesia.
Is Yam an Aroid?
AROIDS are plants from the family Araceae such as anthurium, elephant’s ear plant, and dumb cane. The leaves and tubers of many aroids contain exceedingly sharp minute crystals of calcium oxalate. ... Taro (Colocasia esculenta) The taro is usually confused locally with the yam (Dioscoreaceae), which is actually a vine .
Is taro a Cocoyam?
Cocoyam also known as Taro root , is a nutritious root vegetable that is eaten across the African continent. Growing up to 6 feet tall, cocoyam (taro root) is a large perennial plant with large heart-shaped leaves, and turnip-sized corms.
What are Aroid crops?
Aroids are from the family Araceae and include many common houseplants like aglaonemas, monsteras, philodendrons, pothos and ZZ plants. While these plants tend to be “low light” indoor plants, they’re often understory plants in the wild. ... These plants prefer medium light but will tolerate low light.
How many types of taro are there?
There are more than 100 varieties of true taro, but in the continental U.S., you’re most likely to only come across two of them: Dasheen (C. esculenta var. esculenta) is the variety shown throughout this post.
Is Spider plant an aroid?
Take a closer look at this amazing yet common houseplant.
They are all related and are in the aroid family , Araceae, and spread throughout all continents except Antarctica.
Is taro a fruit or vegetable?
Taro root is a vegetable used in a variety of cuisines around the world. It has a mild, nutty taste, starchy texture, and nutrition benefits that make it a healthier alternative to other root vegetables like potatoes.
Does taro make you gain weight?
Summary Due to its high fiber and resistant starch content, taro root may increase feelings of fullness , reduce overall calorie intake and increase fat burning, potentially leading to weight loss and reduced body fat.
Is taro poisonous?
The leaves of the taro plant contain high levels of oxalates that can be poisonous when consumed raw . It’s important to properly cook them to avoid harmful side effects.
Is elephant’s foot edible?
Elephant foot yam, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, is a tropical tuber crop that has been in cultivation throughout tropical Asia for centuries. It is harvested for its corms, tubers, and smooth petioles, all of which are edible and contain key minerals. ... Much of the elephant foot yam can be eaten.
What is the best soil mix for Aroids?
Steve Lucas (a well known plant specialist) recommends the following mix for growing aroids: 30% potting soil, 20% peat, 40% bark, 10% Perlite / Shredded sphagnum moss, some handfuls of horticultural charcoal .
What family is Taro?
taro, (Colocasia esculenta), also called eddo or dasheen, herbaceous plant of the arum family (Araceae) and its edible rootlike corm.
What is the common name for taro?
Colocasia esculenta is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible corms, a root vegetable most commonly known as taro (/ˈtɑːroʊ, ˈtæroʊ/), kalo, dasheen, madhumbe, marope, magogoya, patra or godere (see §Names and etymology for an extensive list).
What is taro root called in South Africa?
Madumbe is known and used by all South Africans. It’s the yummy sister of the potato. Like the potato it’s a root vegetable and it’s loaded with nutrients and vitamins. The Madumbe goes by other names such as yams, gabi and popularly known to the world as the Taro Root.
Is Colocasia same as taro?
Commonly known as elephant-ear, colocasia is a herbaceous perennial with a large rhizome on or just below the ground surface. ... It is also known as taro , cocoyam, dasheen, chembu and eddoe.
