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Taro
ExplorePlants
Taro
colocasia esculenta
Taro is a big leafy plant that grows in warm, wet places. Its large, heart-shaped leaves are fun to touch and look at!
Habitat: Taro grows in marshy areas and tropical regions around the world.
Appearance
The Taro has enormous, heart-shaped to sagitate leaves, often a striking green with prominent veins, and sometimes purple or dark red stems. Its velvety, water-repellent foliage gives it a unique appearance, distinct from other large-leaved plants.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAlismatalesFamilyAraceaeGenusColocasia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
In Hawaii, a traditional dish called poi is made from mashed taro corms.
Some taro varieties have strikingly beautiful purple or pink flesh inside!
Taro is one of the oldest cultivated plants, grown for thousands of years!
Taro roots are packed with energy, like a super-starchy vegetable.
Special abilities
Ability
Water Shield
Taro has special waxy leaves that make water bead up and roll off, keeping them dry and clean.
Ability
Underground Food Storage
Taro can grow large edible corms underground to store energy and nutrients, helping it survive and regrow.
Ability
Self-Defense Crystals
Taro has tiny calcium oxalate crystals in its raw parts that cause an itchy irritation, deterring hungry animals.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-200 cm
- Spread
- 50-150 cm
- Flower Size
- 10-30 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eats
taro planthopper
Tarophagus colocasiae
Feeds on the sap from taro leaves and stems.
eats
taro hornworm
Hippotion celerio
Larvae consume taro leaves, sometimes causing defoliation.
eaten by
black rat
Rattus rattus
Rats can damage and eat the starchy underground corms.
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Bees may visit taro flowers to collect nectar and pollen.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
Chinese potatotaro root
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash your hands after touching plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Taro?
60-200 cm
How wide does Taro spread?
50-150 cm
How big are the flowers on Taro?
10-30 cm
When does Taro bloom?
Summer
Is Taro edible?
Yes
Is Taro toxic?
Moderate
What is Taro's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Taro pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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