Cocoyam, taro, dasheen, eddo
Family Araceae
Colocasia esculenta (= Colocasia antiquorum), cocoyam (Africa), taro (Pacific), dasheen or eddo (West Indies) (C. esculenta 1), is an herb, 1-2 m tall, with large leaves (C. esculenta 2) and an underground starchy corm (C. esculenta 3). This corm is up to 30 cm long, rich in starch and vitamin B and C. Many varieties never flower and are known under different names. Propagation is by cutting of the top part of the corm and planting it.
Distribution
The species grows wild in southeastern Asia. It is grown (C. esculenta 4) throughout the humid tropics and is an important food crop in the Pacific. It is also a popular crop in West Africa and the West Indies (C. esculenta 5).
It is assumed that the ancestors of the Polynesians took the plant to the Pacific islands from the Malaysion region, about 200 years ago. The Maoris took it with them to New Zealand. The early slave trade brought the plant into the West Indies. It reached West Africa via India.
Use
The large central starchy corm is the portion usually eaten. It contains very fine-grained and easily digestible starch. The corms, which can be white, grey, brownish to blue-pink in colour, is roasted, baked or boiled. Also flour is made from the corn. Young leaves are used as vegetable (C. esculenta 6), (C. esculenta 7).