Common Name: Giant Taro

General Information

Giant taro is a large, herbaceous perennial plant growing 2 - 4 metres tall, with thickened stems that can be 3 metres or more in height and 20cm in diameter, and leaves up to 1 metre long[].
The plant is cultivated in some parts of lowland tropical Asia, mainly for the edible stems but also for the corm[].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals. This substance is toxic fresh and, if eaten, makes the mouth, tongue and throat feel as if hundreds of small needles are digging in to them. However, calcium oxalate is easily broken down either by thoroughly cooking the plant or by fully drying it and, in either of these states, it is safe to eat the plant. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Indian subcontinent, Malaysia.

Habitat

Common along river banks and other damp places from sea-level to 500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the higher-rainfall areas of the lowland tropics, where it is cultivated at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 25°c, but can tolerate 10 - 32°c[].It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,500 - 3,500mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 4,200mm[].
Grows best in a position in some shade[]. Prefers a well-drained, humus-rich, fertile loam, though it is tolerant of a wide range of soil types[]. Dislikes water-logged soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.7 - 6.3, tolerating 5 - 7.3[].

Grows best in higher-rainfall areas of the lowland tropics[].
Plants take from 400 - 600 days to mature, but the stems can then remain in a suitable condition for a considerable time[].
Whilst many forms of this plant contain calcium oxalate crystals (see notes above on toxicity), cultivars have been developed in India that do not contain oxalates[].
Like many species in the family Araceae, this plant has the ability to heat the flowering spadix as the pollen becomes ready for fertilization. This heat greatly increases the strength of the aroma released by the plant, thus attracting more pollinating insects. It can also have the effect of making the insects more active, thus increasing the level of fertilization[].

Edible Uses

Corm - cooked[]. The corm needs to be thoroughly cooked before being eaten in order to destroy the calcium oxalate crystals[, ].

Stems - cooked[]. The basal part of the stem, which can be up to 1 metre tall and 20cm in diameter, is peeled and used as a cooked vegetable[, ]. It can be added to soups and stews[]. A very easily digested starch can be obtained from the stem[, ].

The leaves and stalks of some cultivars are edible[].

Medicinal

Although no specific medicinal properties have been established, giant taro is often used in traditional medicine in the Pacific Islands[]..

The sap of the stem is used to treat earache or boils in the ear[]. Externally, it is used to treat cuts[]. In New Guinea, headaches are treated with the sap and the leaves[].

The roots are used to treat swollen lymph glands[].

The wood is used to treat stomach-ache and diarrhoea[].

Sexual insufficiency is treated by eating the leaves cooked in coconut milk[].

Other Uses

A fibre is said to be obtained from the plant[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germinates best at 24c.
Division of the rootstock as the plant is coming into growth.

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