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
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.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - University of Florida

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Plant(s); Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, 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	Flower(s); Victor Ramey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, 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	Root(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, 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