Home | > | List of families | > | Araceae | > | Colocasia | > | esculenta |
Synonyms: |
Colocasia antiquorum Schott |
Common names: | Coco yam (English) Madumbe (Shona) Mudhumbe (Shona) Taro (English) |
Frequency: | Locally common |
Status: | Introduced |
Description: |
Perennial herb, growing from a thick tuber. Leaves several on erect petiole sheathing for up to 2/3 of the length, blade broadly ovate-sagittate with rounded basal lobes. Spathe 30-30 cm long; basal tube short, green; limb much longer, yellow to orange. Spadix shorter than the spathe with sterile appendix up to 4 cm long. Flowers unisexual. In some cultivars plants rarely flower. |
Notes: | It is locally cultivated for its edible tubers and is found as an occasional escape, particularly along rivers in hot areas. |
Derivation of specific name: | esculenta: edible |
Habitat: | Mainly by rivers at low altitudes, sometimes forming colonies. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Native to tropical Asia. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Thursday 7 September 2006 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 14. Haigh, A. & Boyce, P. (2012). Araceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(1) Page 2. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 85. Mayo, S.J. (1985). Araceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 5. Tredgold, M.H. et al. (1986). Food Plants of Zimbabwe Mambo Press Page 42. (Includes a picture). |
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