OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Alismatales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Colocasia esculenta   FAMILY Araceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Colocasia esculenta   FAMILY Araceae

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)

Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)

Colocasia esculenta var. aquatilis

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)

Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)

Colocasia esculenta var. nymphiifolia

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America

Colocasia esculenta

INCLUDING Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Colocasia antiquorum

 

COMMON NAME:
Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Colocasia esculenta, Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen

John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org    bug_1582898

Month Unknown        

Particularly a problem along waterways, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).

image of Colocasia esculenta, Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen

Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org    bug_5307014

Month Unknown        

image of Colocasia esculenta, Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen

David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org    bug_5344097

Month Unknown        

Leaves are held on 3' long petioles that attach in the center of the leaf, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).


click here to see other plants that look similar to this COMPARE Arrowhead, Arum, Elephant's Ear and Pickerelweed

image of Colocasia esculenta, Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen

David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org    bug_5344098

Month Unknown        

Leaves shaped like an elephant's ear or a fat arrowhead, 2-3' long, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).


click here to see other plants that look similar to this COMPARE Arrowhead, Arum, Elephant's Ear and Pickerelweed

image of Colocasia esculenta, Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen

David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org    bug_5345005

Month Unknown        

image of Colocasia esculenta, Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen

Victor Ramey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org    bug_5349037

Month Unknown        

Spathe limb opening only proximally (remainder furled), lanceolate or elliptic, apex acuminate, per Flora of China.

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Colocasia esculenta   FAMILY Araceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Colocasia esculenta   FAMILY Araceae

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. aquatilis

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta

INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. nymphiifolia

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Colocasia esculenta

INCLUDING Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Colocasia antiquorum

 

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354

Marginal emergent aquatic (rooted); Forb
Perennial
Monoecious

Habitat: Ditches, shores, bottomland hardwood forests, per Weakley's Flora

Non-native: Tropics

Common in GA Coastal Plain, uncommon in Carolina Coastal Plain (rare in Piedmont)

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.


INVASIVE

This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:

 

LEAVES:
Simple
Basal?
Leaves have long petioles.

FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Spathe limb cream, dull yellow, golden yellow, pale orange
3-6 stamens in staminate flowers
Unisexual

Inflorescence a spadix

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall?
Green
Berry

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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