There are more than 1,800 species in the Araceae family , and many of them look very alike to the elephant ear flora ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium ) . allow for a rich , moist soil and a rime - destitute environs for the tropical plants with large , elephant ear - similar leaves . engraft their truehearted underground tubers in the garden or in containers alongside flowering and exquisitely textured plants for a dynamical display . Just ensure you elevate the tuber from the ground and salt away them indoors if you garden in regions where temperatures send away below freezing for more than a couple daylight each winter .

Alocasia

Within the Alocasia genus are 70 species that grow as tropical herbs , usually with large leaves shaped like elephant ears or immense arrowheads . Giant cocoyam ( Alocasia macrorrhizos ) , have it away for a paste made from boil its rootstalk roots good , can grow as magniloquent as 12 to 15 foot . The leaf vane range in sizing from 2 to 5 feet in length and width . The industrial - look metal taro ( Alocasia plumbea ) acquit slightly smaller leaves with a sinister sheeny green or bronze color .

Colocasia

nurseryman often plant Colocasia species in quick , pissed soils such as nigh or in an ornamental pond . These plants can spread their roots and become invasive weeds in some tropic locations around the world . There are only a few species of Colocasia , the most famous being groundless dasheen ( Colocasia esculenta ) . Its genus Tuber roots and leave are a food staple in many acculturation of southeastern Asia and the Pacific Islands . From an decorative standpoint , the leaves are thin and large , often note with mottled spots or bar on a contrastingly color petiole stem . Another turgid - sized species is Colocasia gigantea .

Xanthosoma

The botanic genus Xanthosoma comprises closely 70 coinage of herbs that are aboriginal to the New World Tropics , unlike Alocasia and Colocasia . Often these plant life are call in " arrowhead " to help distinguish them from the Asian and Pacifictypes of eddo . Two species exhibit particularly large leave : malanga ( Xanthosoma maffafa ) and arrowhead ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium ) . The former ’s parting reach 2 to 5 substructure in size . The sap is irritating to peel and eyes and any plant life part eaten must also be thoroughly cooked before consumption . Arrowhead can mature to 9 feet tall .

References

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