Lotus root (Colocasia gigantea Hook.f.)

Japanese: ハスイモ(蓮芋) - ハスイモ（英語表記）Colocasia gigantea Hook.f.

A perennial plant of the Araceae family. It is closely related to the taro plant and is classified as a separate species, but is cultivated as such. The leaves and petioles are green-white with white powder. The plant is large and spreading, reaching a height of 1-1.5m, but produces small baby tubers by extending stolons. Both the parent and baby tubers are small and hard and inedible. They grow well in partial shade, such as under trees, and dislike strong light. Wild species are distributed in Southeast Asia (Malay Peninsula, western Indonesia), but are inedible due to their strong bitter taste.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

サトイモ科の多年草。サトイモの近縁種で，分類上は別種であるが，栽培上はサトイモの同類として扱われる。葉も葉柄も緑白色で，白粉をおびる。株は開張性で大きく，高さ1～1.5mになるが，小さな子いもをストロンを伸ばしてつける。親いも，子いもとも小さくて固く食用にならない。木の下などやや日陰で生育がよく，強光を嫌う。東南アジア(マレー半島，インドネシア西部地域)に野生種が分布するが，えぐみが強く食用にならない。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Victor Paz Estenssoro

>>: Water breaks - Hasui