|
Elephant's
Ear
These
arrow-shaped large leafed plants, generally called "elephant's
ear", provide a tropical focal point in the landscape.
Elephant's Ear produces an inflorescences or flower under ideal
growing conditions and, depending upon the species, will grow leaves
24 by 36 inches and reach a height of 6 feet. Leaf color ranges from
black to deep green with white or green veins.
History
of the Elephant's Ear
The
Colocasia species is native to swampy tropical areas of
Southeastern Asia.
C. esculenta was
brought to the Americas from Africa as a food crop for slaves. It
was introduced into Florida and other southern states in 1910 by the
USDA as a substitute crop for potatoes. The Alocasia species originates
in southern Asia growing in the tropical forests of Borneo, Ceylon
and throughout the Southern Pacific. Unlike C. esculenta,
Alocasia spp is not editable and is in fact poisonous. The Xanthosoma
species originates in tropical America and is second in
importance only to Colocasia as a food crop in Central
America, South America, West Africa and tropical Asia.
Growing
Elephant's Ear (Colocasia spp)
   
|
