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Taro ID Question

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TropicalDoc:
I was at the Farm Supply Cooperative in Hilo, and saw a plant labeled “Samoan Taro”. I’m a sucker for new types of tropical vegetables, and Taro especially, so I bought it. 

After I got home and planted it though, I started wondering if this is an edible plant at all. The leaves look more arrow-head shaped. My plant identifier even identified it as Green Arrow Arum (Peltandra Virginica), which it described as a poisonous plant.

Can anyone know knows Taro well look at my pics and see if they recognize it as an edible Taro? Thanks in advance!

Kevin

Galatians522:
That looks like Xanthosoma brasilliensis--it is used for lua (cooked leaves). Maybe ask your source if it is edible. Kew says that it is easy to identify because it is one of the only aeroids with a hastate leaf (had to look that one up).

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:269304-2&ved=2ahUKEwikiJCEqPf4AhWYQzABHaGeATkQFnoECAgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2QN71KxRldlUsVCX9G7eWf

Pictures of this species on the net seem to be mostly of X. sagitifolium that are copied and pasted. The link below shows what to my non-botanist thinking is the hastate leaf described by Kew.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.tastinghawaii.com/2016/07/tahitian-taro-leaf-for-life.html&ved=2ahUKEwiG04Pap_f4AhXJTjABHQivAAMQr4kDegQIBRAE&usg=AOvVaw3JNiPXnYfy4e1ONm_lHBSS

TropicalDoc:
Wow thank you this has been extremely helpful! I had no idea about Xanthosoma taro. I think you’re exactly right though. I’ll thoroughly cook and try a small amount first of course. We will see if the leaves are indeed better tasting than colocasia taro leaves, as has been reported.

Thanks again for this!

Kevin

Francis_Eric:
I am interested to know how long to cook these leaves?

Are these containing Calcium oxalate ?

Galatians522:

--- Quote from: Francis_Eric on July 14, 2022, 11:59:07 AM ---I am interested to know how long to cook these leaves?

Are these containing Calcium oxalate ?

--- End quote ---

Yes, they contain Calcium oxalate. I cooked a small amount for 10-12 minutes and it was not "prickly". I think the link I provided recommends 20 minutes.

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