Colocasia Tubers - Tubercules de Colocasie

Colocasia forms part of the family Araceae. The genus is native to southeastern Asia. Colocasia is naturalized and cultivated as a perennial flowering plant in the ground and in large containers in tropics and subtropics and as annuals where the tubers are dug up overwintered inside in temperate climates. Colocasia root tubers, called taro, and leaves are staple food plants where it grows naturally. The plant needs to be processed by boiling, fermenting, soaking or treated with an acid like tamarind or lime before eating due to the presence of raphides of calcium oxalate monohydrate. Colocasia likes warmth, shade, nutrient rich and moisture retentive soil.