Giant Taro

Rhizomatous, evergreen, perennial herb, up to 4.5 m tall. Gigantic leaves (up to 180 x 120 cm), arrow-shaped at their bases and stand upright, pointing skyward (unlike the leaves of Colocasia which droop and point toward the ground). Flowers consist of a yellowish-green spathe and spadix. The plant performs best in part shade in organically rich, moist to wet soils.

Native to the rainforests from Borneo (Malaysia) to Queensland (Australia). It has long been cultivated on many Pacific Islands and elsewhere in the tropics.

No known.

The giant, heart-shaped leaves are used to drink from or make impromptu umbrellas and also to cover the food placed in Fijian ground ovens called “lovo”.