Giant taro
Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don
Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos) is a huge arum-family herb up to 3 m tall with large heart- to shield-shaped leaves; its starchy corm is edible once well cooked, but the raw sap contains irritating calcium oxalate.
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Gallery
Giant taro — cormGiant taro — habit (whole plant)
Giant taro — leaves
Giant taro — leaf detail
Giant taro — leaves and stem
Giant taro — flower stalk (spathe and spadix)Giant taro — cormGiant taro — habit (whole plant)Overview
Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos), also called elephant ear or ape, is a huge herb of the arum family (Araceae), genus Alocasia, up to 3 m tall, growing from a large, starchy **corm**. The leaves are very large, heart- to shield-shaped (peltate), with entire margins, up to about 1 m long on thick stalks that may reach 1.5 m. The inflorescence is typical of the arum family: a **spathe** enclosing a **spadix** set with tiny flowers; the fruit is a berry that turns red as it ripens. The sap contains many needle-like **calcium oxalate** crystals (raphides) and is therefore acrid and irritating when raw.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/12/2026
Giant taro is native to the tropical islands of Southeast Asia and New Guinea and is now widely cultivated across the tropics (Oceania, Hawaii, where it is called 'ape'). Its **corm** and **leaf stalks** are edible but must be thoroughly cooked to break down the irritating calcium oxalate. It is also grown as an ornamental for its enormous foliage. It has not been assessed by the IUCN and is therefore listed as Not Evaluated (NE).
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/12/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productCorm & shoots
The plant perennates by a large corm underground; from the corm grow shoots bearing huge stalks and leaves.
Leaves
Very large heart- to shield-shaped leaves up to about 1 m on long, thick stalks, forming a big canopy.
Flowering
When mature the plant flowers: a spathe encloses a spadix densely set with tiny flowers.
Fruit & harvest
The berries turn red when ripe; in cultivation the corm and leaf stalks are harvested for food.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Maritime Southeast Asia (native)30%
- New Guinea & western Pacific (native)20%
- Oceania & Hawaii (cultivated/introduced)20%
- South & East Asia (cultivated)15%
- Elsewhere (ornamental/introduced)15%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Starch (corm)Main energy store of the corm30%
- Water & mucilageWatery stalks and corm20%
- Calcium oxalate (raphides)Causes irritation when raw16%
- Protein & amino acidsModerate content12%
- Minerals (K, Ca, Mg)Rich in potassium12%
- Vitamins & other constituentsVitamin C, B-group...10%
Uses
- Food: the **corm** and **leaf stalks** are edible after thorough boiling/cooking; in Hawaii it is called 'ape' and is a traditional staple.
- Ornamental: grown as a striking tropical ornamental for its enormous foliage.
- Folk use in Vietnam: ráy grows wild in damp places and is used in some traditional remedies (care due to the irritating sap).
- Fodder: in some places the corm and leaves (after cooking) are fed to livestock.
- Safety warning: do not eat raw; the sap's calcium oxalate irritates and burns the mouth — cook thoroughly to remove it.
Properties
- Form
- Huge cormous herb up to 3 m tall; large heart- to shield-shaped leaves on thick stalks
- Hallmark
- Enormous foliage; the arum-family spathe-and-spadix inflorescence; a starchy corm
- Nutrition
- The corm is rich in starch and potassium; the stalks are watery and low in energy
- Toxicity & caution
- Sap has calcium oxalate: do not eat raw; cook thoroughly; take care with children
Habitat & conservation
Giant taro likes hot, humid climates, moist humus-rich soil and light shade; it grows by streams, in damp gullies and in the understorey of tropical forest, or is cultivated. It is native to tropical maritime Southeast Asia and New Guinea and is widely grown in the tropics for its edible corm and leaf stalks and as an ornamental.
Conservation
Giant taro is widespread and widely cultivated throughout the tropics; it has not been assessed by the IUCN and is therefore listed as Not Evaluated (NE). Family Araceae, genus Alocasia. Value: corm and leaf stalks for food, ornamental use; its sap contains calcium oxalate so it must be cooked thoroughly.
References
- 1POWO — Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don — Plants of the World Online (Kew), 2026
- 2GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don — GBIF, 2026
- 3Wikipedia EN — Alocasia macrorrhizos (giant taro) — Wikipedia EN, 2026
- 4Wikipedia VI — Ráy — Wikipedia VI, 2026
- 5Wikipedia ZH — 海芋 — Wikipedia ZH, 2026
- 6Ảnh: Forest & Kim Starr (CC BY 3.0 US); Obsidian Soul (CC0); さつまやまいもすけ (CC0) — Wikimedia Commons, 2026
- 7Ảnh: AlocasiaMacrorrhizaLeaf (CC BY-SA 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons, 2026