Taro << TAH roh or TAR oh >> is a tropical plant whose large, starchy stems are eaten as food. The edible stems, called corms, grow underground. Taro is grown in many tropical regions, especially in Hawaii and other Pacific islands. Taro ranks as an important food crop in tropical regions of the world. It also has become an important export crop to the continental United States.
Common names for taro include cocoyam, eddoe (also spelled eddo), and dasheen. Taro is closely related to the ornamental plants elephant’s-ear and caladium.
