Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Alismatales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Learn more about Elephant's Ear from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
INCLUDING
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Colocasia antiquorum
COMMON NAME:
Elephant's Ear, Taro, Dasheen
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_1582898
Month Unknown
Particularly a problem along waterways, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control.
)
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org bug_5307014
Month Unknown
)
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_5344097
Month Unknown
Leaves are held on 3' long petioles that attach in the center of the leaf, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control.
COMPARE
leaves of Arrowhead, Arum, Elephant's Ear and Pickerelweed
)
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_5344098
Month Unknown
Leaves shaped like an elephant's ear or a fat arrowhead, 2-3' long, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control.
COMPARE
leaves of Arrowhead, Arum, Elephant's Ear and Pickerelweed
)
David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org bug_5345005
Month Unknown
)
Victor Ramey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org bug_5349037
Month Unknown
Tiny flowers on a fleshy stalk (spadix) covered by a yellow hood (spathe), per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Colocasia esculenta
FAMILY
Araceae
INCLUDING
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Colocasia antiquorum
354
Marginal emergent aquatic (rooted); Forb
Perennial
Non-native: Tropics
Documented growing wild in GA NC SC
Uncommon
Look for it in ditches, shores, bottomland hardwood forests, per Weakley's Flora
Click here to see a more detailed map from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium,
or click here to see a map from SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
LEAVES:
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Green/ Yellow/ Pale orange
Unisexual
3-6 stamens in staminate flowers
Inflorescence a spadix
FRUIT:
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Field Guide to Aquatic Plants of Alabama p10
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control p246