Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Liliopsida > Alismatales > Araceae > Colocasia > C. esculenta

Description: Herbs, rhizome stoloniferous. Leaves few to many, peltate, 20-28 x 10-18 cm, ovate, cordate to sagittate at base, glabrous; nerves 6 pairs, united to form an intramarginal vein; lowest pair with lateral nerves of the basal lobes, intercostae curved; petiole 30-45 cm long, cylindrical, smooth. Peduncle solitary or few together, 10-20 cm long, stout; spathe to 20 cm long, yellow, lanceolate, constricted above the base; limb acuminate. Spadix 10 cm long, cylindrical, appendages terete, obtuse. Male flowers above, to 5-6 cm of the spadix, stamens 6; female flowers on lower, 2 cm of the spadix; ovary 1-celled, ovules many on 2-4 parietal placentas. Neutral flowers many, peltate, between the female and male flowers. Fruit an aggregate of berries, globose.

Flowering and Fruiting: May-October

Uses: Ayurveda, Folk medicine, Unani, Siddha, Traditional chinese medicineTender leaves and tubers are eaten as vegetable, specially with acidi fruit in various forms.

Cultivation: Cultivated

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org