Arbi
(Colocasia esculenta)
Other Names: Taro, Eddoe, Patra, Elephant ears
Description:
Arbi is a herbaceous perennial plant with a large corm on or just below the ground surface. The leaves are large to very large, 20–150 cm (7.9–59.1 in) long, with a sagittate shape. The elephant's-ear plant gets its name from the leaves, which are shaped like a large ear or shield.
Uses:
Health:
Arbi contains more than twice the carbohydrate content of potatoes and yield 135 kcals per 100 g. It contains about 11% protein on a dry weight basis. This is more than yam, cassava or sweet potato. Arbi leaves have demonstrated the ability of antidiabetic, antihypertensive, immunoprotective, neuroprotective, and anticarcinogenic activities.
Climate:
Soil:
Propagation:
The arbi plant reproduces mostly by means of rhizomes (tubers, corms), but it also produces clusters of two to five fragrant inflorescenes in the leaf axils. |
