Wild Taro Plant Threatens the Cahaba River Ecosystem

The wild taro plant, also known as Colocasia esculenta, is a highly invasive species that is wreaking havoc on the Cahaba River ecosystem.

Native to Southeast Asia, this plant has been introduced to the Cahaba River through human activity and has since spread rapidly, outcompeting native vegetation for resources.

The plant's ability to form dense stands and produce large amounts of biomass makes it difficult for other plants and animals to coexist in the same area.

Wild Taro is a fast-growing aquatic weed with dark reddish purple stalks and very large, arrowhead-shaped, dark-green, velvety leaves.

The leaves are shaped somewhat like elephant's ears.

It's actually a type of plant that can be harvested for its potato-like tubers in some parts of the world.

The plant is actually poisonous if ingested raw because of needle-shaped raphides in the plant cells.

Severe gastrointestinal distress can occur if you eat it raw, starting with an immediate painful irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips.

The Taro in Brisbane is mostly the common purple-black stemmed cultivar known as Colocasia esculenta 'Fontanesii'.

There is another type of Taro called Blue Taro, but it's much less edible and also a nasty weed.

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Wild taro is a unique plant that's easy to identify. Its large arrowhead-shaped leaf blades can grow up to 60 cm long and 50 cm wide.

The upper surface of the leaf blades is dark green and has a velvety sheen, making them water repellent. This characteristic helps the plant thrive in various environments.

The leaf stalks, or petioles, are large and succulent, often purplish near the top. They're attached to the back of the leaf blade, which is a distinctive feature of the wild taro plant.

Here are some key characteristics of wild taro leaves:

Wild taro is a perennial herb that can grow up to 1.5 meters tall, with thick shoots from a large corm and slender stolons. It's a common sight in Florida's natural areas.

The leaves of wild taro are peltate, meaning they're stalked from the back of the blade, and can reach up to 60 cm in length and 50 cm in width. They're dark green on top, with a velvety sheen and are water-repellent.

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The petioles of wild taro are large and succulent, often purplish near the top. They're a distinguishing feature of this plant, and can help you identify it in the wild.

Here's a summary of the key characteristics of wild taro:

Wild taro can be distinguished from elephant ear by the attachment of the leaf from the petiole. In taro, the petiole attaches to the leaf several inches from the base of the 'V' of the leaf, while the petiole is attached directly at the base in elephant ears.

Native to India and southeastern Asia, wild taro was brought to the Americas as a food crop for slaves. Its introduction to Florida and other southeastern states by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1910 was as a possible substitute for potatoes.

Wild taro can be found in areas with suitable climate conditions, where it can thrive as a substitute crop.

Wild taro has a significant impact on the ecology of shorelines along the St. Johns River and its tributaries, crowding out native plants that are important sources of food for wildlife.

Wild taro infestations are spreading in Florida's water bodies, increasing from 32 percent in 1983 to 62 percent in public lakes and rivers in 2002. This means that nearly two-thirds of public lakes and rivers in Florida are now infested with wild taro.

Wild taro can form dense populations that alter the vegetational structure and dynamics of riparian plant communities. Its large leaves can shade and prevent regeneration of desired species, leading to a loss of biodiversity.

Wild taro is difficult to control in Florida and quickly resprouts after herbicide application or hand-pulling if the entire rhizome is not killed or removed. This makes it a challenging invasive species to manage.

Here are some key statistics about the spread of wild taro in Florida:

Wild taro is a widespread problem in central Florida, where it can be found along shorelines, in swamps, and along stream banks.

Its large leaves can shade out and prevent the regeneration of desired species, altering the vegetational structure and dynamics of riparian plant communities.

In fact, dense populations of wild taro can form extensive stands that take over and displace native plant communities.

Rhizome fragments can easily be carried by streams, and floods can dislodge bud-laden rhizomes from the banks, allowing them to spread even further.

The UF/IFAS Assessment lists wild taro as invasive/no use in all parts of Florida, and the FLEPPC has categorized it as a Category 1 invasive species due to its aggressive behavior.

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Management is necessary because wild taro populations have changed the ecology of a large portion of shorelines along the St. Johns River and its tributaries by crowding out native plants that are important sources of food for wildlife.

In Florida, biologists have reported that wild taro infestations are spreading rapidly, increasing from 32 percent in 1983 to 62 percent in public lakes and rivers in 2002.

Wild taro populations are difficult to control in Florida and quickly resprout after herbicide application or hand-pulling if the entire rhizome is not killed or removed.

The large leaves of wild taro can shade and prevent regeneration of desired species, leading to dense populations that alter the vegetational structure and dynamics of riparian plant communities.

Vegetative growth of wild taro leads to extensive stands that can be difficult to manage.

Wild taro is not recommended by UF/IFAS and is listed as an invasive/no use species in all parts of Florida.

Here are some ways to prevent wild taro from spreading:

Wild taro populations have changed the ecology of a large portion of shorelines along the St. Johns River and its tributaries by crowding out native plants that are important sources of food for wildlife.

If you're interested in seeing where invasive taro has been found on the Cahaba River, you can view a map developed by Cahaba River Society in partnership with Samford's Department of Geography and Sociology.

The map shows locations of known invasive taro sightings, and you can click on each location for more details.

To view the map legend, click on the "Legend" button at the top left and choose the legend you want to see.

If you're concerned about invasive taro in your area, you can contact Cahaba River Society to report your findings or to volunteer to help remove taro.

Here are some ways to get involved:

Never place loose taro plants at the curb for trash collection, as they can wash into storm drains and reach waterways, allowing them to spread.

If you're looking to plant something similar to wild taro, you might consider Southern arrowhead, Sagittaria australis, which grows in the same habitat.

This plant can be distinguished from wild taro by its insertion point, where the stem attaches to the leaf blade, which is at the notch or vertex of the cleft of the leaf blade.

One key thing to note is that the insertion point on Southern arrowhead is at the notch or vertex of the cleft of the leaf blade, which is different from wild taro's insertion point near the middle of the leaf blade.

To tackle the issue of taro in the Cahaba River, it's essential to know what wild taro looks like.

Know the enemy: familiarize yourself with the plant's appearance to identify it in its various stages.

Don't let corms, roots, rhizomes, or seeds wash into storm drains or local waterways - this is a primary way the plant spreads.

Bag the plants for disposal in a landfill when getting rid of taro, and never leave loose taro plants at the curb for trash collection.

Wear gloves and protective clothing when removing Wild Taro, as the sap can ruin clothing and irritate skin due to its high oxalic acid content.

Contact Cahaba River Society if you find Wild Taro in the Cahaba River or its tributaries, such as Shades Creek, and they'll help you address the issue.

To help control the spread of wild taro, spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors who may not be aware of the plant's potential harm to the environment.

Here are some ways to get involved in taro removal efforts:

If you're looking for alternatives to taro, consider planting Southern arrowhead, Sagittaria australis, which grows in the same habitat as Wild Taro.

The primary feature that distinguishes Wild Taro from Southern arrowhead is the insertion point, where the stem (petiole) attaches to the leaf blade.

The insertion point on Wild Taro is near the middle of the leaf blade, while on arrowhead, it's at the notch or vertex of the cleft of the leaf blade.

The wild taro plant is a fascinating species. It can be found in various natural areas, including those in Florida.

The Atlas of Florida Plants lists the wild taro plant as one of the non-native species present in the state. This information can be verified through the Atlas of Florida Plants.

Wild taro plants have been identified and studied by researchers at the University of Florida, who have published their findings in the Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida's Natural Areas- University of Florida.

The UF/IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants in Florida's Natural Areas provides further insights into the characteristics and habits of the wild taro plant.

If you're interested in learning more about this species, you can check out the following resources: