If imported, from where: This native of India and southeastern Asia was brought from

Africa to the Americas as a food crop for slaves. In 1910, coco yam was

also promoted as an alternative crop to potatoes by the USDA. Negative Impact

Considered an “aggressive weed” in parts of the Southeast by 1974. Wild taro

has escaped cultivation and forms dense stands that displace native shoreline vegetation
in Florida’s streams, rivers, marshy lakeshores, canals, and

ditches. Often shoreline wild taro stands break loose and form floating islands that block
navigational access and increase flooding potential in canals.

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. Biologists have reported that wild taro
infestations are spreading in Florida’s waterbodies increasing from

32% to 62% in public lakes and river since 1983. 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.

Wild taro tubers contain oxalic acid crystals, giving it an acrid taste and causing irritation
unless prepared properly. The plant must be handled with care,

for all parts contain the irritant.

http://www.apms.org/japm/vol38/v38p70.pdf

Coco yam is a perennial forb that originates from a large corm and can grow to 4 ft. (1.5
m) in height. Leaves, supported by 3 ft. (1 m) long petioles, are

arrowhead shaped, up to 2 ft. (0.6 m) long and 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) wide, peltate and velvety on
the upper surface. Flowering seldom occurs outside of the native

range. Plants spread vegetatively through rhizomes. The invasive variety also spreads
through aboveground stolons. Flowers, when present, are small and

densely crowded at the apex of a fleshy stalk. Fruit are small berries. Coco yam is native
to Africa and was first brought to the Americas as a food crop for
slaves. In 1910, coco yam was also promoted as an alternative crop to potatoes by the
USDA.

http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/01_cms/details.asp?viewMode=printable&ID
=1790