Family Araceae

Taro Family

HAWAII - POLYNESIAN INTRODUCTION / CULTIVATED

Colocasia esculenta

UH Manoa, Oahu

TARO    KALO    SATOIMO

Native to Malaysia & cultivated in watered paddies throughout the tropics.  Remains an important staple in Pacific Islands.  Stinging calcium oxalate crystals must be removed by cooking or soaking in cold water before consumption.  Starchy root or corm is mashed with water to create poi.  Leaves are cooked like spinach.  Also grown as an ornamental.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taro

Alocasia macrorrhiza

UH Manoa, Oahu

'APE

Brought to Hawaii by early settlers and naturalized along lowland streams & wet areas.  Leaf apices tend to point skyward, moderately glossy.  Baked corms eaten during famines.  Occurs from India east through Polynesia.

HAWAII - NATURALIZED

Xanthosoma robustum

UH Manoa, Oahu

FALSE 'APE    ELEPHANT'S EAR

Naturalized along lowland streams & wet areas.  Thin dull-green leaves with apices pointed downward.  Native to the Tropical Americas.

Epipremnum pinnatum

Waimanalo, Oahu

TARO VINE or GOLDEN POTHOS

Epiphytic liana or vine in wet disturbed areas.  Native to Southeast Asia.

Pistia stratiotes

UH Manoa, Oahu

WATER LETTUCE

Aquatic plant in ponds & ditches.  Tropics worldwide.

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