I didn't know, so I emailed Gene McAvoy, Hendry County Extension Agent and 5-County Veggie Expert. His reply:
"No, there are couple of species of "elephant ear" plant. Colocasia escuelentum is taro and the smaller Xanthosoma sagittifolium is called coco yam by some. Both have several synonyms depending on country and people.
There are several elephant ears in the family Alocasia (79 species) which should be avoided as while they are technically edible, they contains crystals of Calcium oxalate along with other irritants that can numb and swell the tongue and pharynx resulting in difficult breathing, and sharp throat pain."
I am glad I asked.
Other names for Colocasia escuelentum include: taro, dasheen, elephant ear, cocoyam, eddo, eddoe.
Here is an article about Colocasia escuelentum:
http://floridata.com/Plants/Araceae/Colocasia%20esculenta/899
Other names for Xanthosoma sagittifolium include: New cocoyam, tania, yautia, chou Caraïbe, malanga marron, taye, tayove, tania, adão, costela de adão, malanga, ocumo, tanier, tiquisque blanco, yautía blanca.
Alocasia article here:
http://floridata.com/Plants/Araceae/Alocasia%20macrorrhiza/947
Thank you Gene for advising.
There are several elephant ears in the family Alocasia (79 species) which should be avoided as while they are technically edible, they contains crystals of Calcium oxalate along with other irritants that can numb and swell the tongue and pharynx resulting in difficult breathing, and sharp throat pain."
I am glad I asked.
Other names for Colocasia escuelentum include: taro, dasheen, elephant ear, cocoyam, eddo, eddoe.
Here is an article about Colocasia escuelentum:
http://floridata.com/Plants/Araceae/Colocasia%20esculenta/899
Other names for Xanthosoma sagittifolium include: New cocoyam, tania, yautia, chou Caraïbe, malanga marron, taye, tayove, tania, adão, costela de adão, malanga, ocumo, tanier, tiquisque blanco, yautía blanca.
Alocasia article here:
http://floridata.com/Plants/Araceae/Alocasia%20macrorrhiza/947
Thank you Gene for advising.
