Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Alismatales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Learn more about Elephant's Ear from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. aquatilis
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. nymphiifolia
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Colocasia esculenta
INCLUDING Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Colocasia antiquorum
COMMON NAME:
Elephant's-ear, Taro, Dasheen
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_1582898
Month Unknown
Particularly a problem along waterways, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org bug_5307014
Month Unknown
)
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_5344097
Month Unknown
Leaves are held on 3' long petioles that attach in the center of the leaf, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
COMPARE
Arrowhead, Arum, Elephant's Ear and Pickerelweed
)
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_5344098
Month Unknown
Leaves shaped like an elephant's ear or a fat arrowhead, 2-3' long, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
COMPARE
Arrowhead, Arum, Elephant's Ear and Pickerelweed
)
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_5345005
Month Unknown
)
Victor Ramey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org bug_5349037
Month Unknown
Spathe limb opening only proximally (remainder furled), lanceolate or elliptic, apex acuminate, per Flora of China.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. aquatilis
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Colocasia esculenta var. nymphiifolia
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Colocasia esculenta
INCLUDING
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Colocasia antiquorum
354
Marginal emergent aquatic (rooted); Forb
Perennial
Monoecious
Habitat: Ditches, shores, bottomland hardwood forests, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Tropics
Common in GA Coastal Plain, uncommon in Carolina Coastal Plain (rare in Piedmont)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
LEAVES:
Simple
Basal?
Leaves have long petioles.
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Spathe limb cream, dull yellow, golden yellow, pale orange
3-6 stamens in staminate flowers
Unisexual
Inflorescence a spadix
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall?
Green
Berry
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Field Guide to Aquatic Plants of Alabama (Lovell, 2007) p10
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p246
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".