Elephant ear taro

Biology

The elephant’s ear taro is a giant fast-growing herbaceous plant that can grow up to five metres in height. It grows in humid tropical climates, has big green leaves and is widely used as an ornamental plant. The fruit is a fleshy berry that turns red when it matures.

Conservation

This is an invasive herbaceous plant with the potential to displace native vegetation. It is currently widely distributed and naturalized in America and tropical Africa. In some islands such as Cuba, New Zealand, Hawaii and Fiji it is listed as invasive.

Curiosities

In the old days, the secretions of this plant were used on the skin as an antidote after touching itchy or stinging plants. The leaves of the elephant’s ear taro were used to wrap a fevered person for comfort and to frighten away evil spirits.