| coco yam, wild taro | USDA PLANTS Symbol: COES U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs |
| Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott |
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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Arales: Araceae |
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| Synonym(s): elephant's ears, dasheen | |
| Native Range: tropical Asia (BAIL); India, Southeast Asia () | |
Coco yam is a perennial forb that originates from a large corm and can grow to 4 ft. (1.5 m) in height. Leaves, supported by 3 ft. (1 m) long petioles, are arrowhead shaped, up to 2 ft. (0.6 m) long and 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) wide, peltate and velvety on the upper surface. Flowering seldom occurs outside of the native range. Plants spread vegetatively through rhizomes. The invasive variety also spreads through aboveground stolons. Flowers, when present, are small and densely crowded at the apex of a fleshy stalk. Fruit are small berries. Coco yam is native to Africa and was first brought to the Americas as a food crop for slaves. In 1910, coco yam was also promoted as an alternative crop to potatoes by the USDA. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Stem(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Root(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Root(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Victor Ramey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
| Native Alternatives: | |
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Canna glauca (maraca amarilla) Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed) Sagittaria platyphylla (delta arrowhead) |  More Information on Native Plants at: www.beplantwise.org PlantWise is a partnership between the National Park Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Garden Club of America and The National Invasive Species Council to prevent harmful invasive plants from invading natural areas. |
| U.S. National Parks where reported invasive: |
| San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (Texas) |
