coco yam, wild taro: Colocasia esculenta (Arales: Araceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

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 ()
Appearance Colocasia esculenta is a perennial forb that originates from a large corm and can grow to 4 ft. (1.5 m) in height. Foliage 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. Flowers Flowering seldom occurs outside of the native range. Flowers, when present, are small and densely crowded at the apex of a fleshy stalk. Fruit Plants spread vegetatively through rhizomes, stolons, offshoot corms or vegetative fragments. Fruit are small berries, but are rarely produced. Ecological Threat Colocasia esculenta can tolerate a wide range of wet to dry sites. It easily invades wetland edges, swamps, blackwater streams and riverine forests. Colocasia esculenta can form dense stands outcompeting native plants. It is native to Africa and was first brought to the Americas as a food crop for slaves. In 1910, Colocasia esculenta was also promoted as an alternative crop to potatoes by the USDA. There are similar native species and some similar exotic species but in all of these similar species their petioles attach to the margin of the leaf blades rather than in the middle as with Colocasia esculenta.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

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 and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Chris Evans, University of Illinois, 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 and 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 and 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, University of Illinois, 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

State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

U.S. National Parks where reported invasive:

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (Texas)

Invasive Listing Sources:

Alabama Invasive Plant Council

California Invasive Plant Council

Florida Invasive Plant Council - Plant List

Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council

South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council

WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States