Cocoyam

The petioles of the leaves (leaf stems) stand erect and can reach lengths in excess of one metre (three feet).

The corm produces lateral buds that give rise to side-corms (cormels, suckers) or stolons (long runners, creeping rhizomes) depending on the species and variety.

Cocoyams commonly reach in excess of one metre (three feet) in height and although they are perennials, they are often grown as annuals, harvested after one season.

Colocasia species may also be referred to as taro, old cocoyam, arrowroot, eddoe, macabo, kontomire or dasheen and originate from the region of Southeast Asia.

[2] [3][4] Xanthosoma species may be referred to as tannia, yautia, new cocoyam or Chinese taro and originate from Central and South America.