Editing Colocasia (section)

==Description==
They are [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s with a large [[corm]] on or just below the ground surface. The [[leaf|leaves]] are large to very large, {{convert|20|–|150|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, with a [[Leaf shape|sagittate]] shape. The elephant's-ear plant gets its name from the leaves, which are shaped like a large ear or shield. The plant reproduces mostly by means of rhizomes (tubers, corms), but it also produces "clusters of two to five fragrant inflorescences in the leaf axils".<ref>Brown, Deni. 2000. Aroids. Plants of the Arum Family. Timber Press, Oregon. p. 250.</ref> Like other members of the family, the plant contains an irritant which causes intense discomfort to the lips, mouth and throat. This acridity is caused in part by microscopic needle-like [[raphide]]s of [[calcium oxalate]] [[Hydrate|monohydrate]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bradbury, J. Howard |author2=Nixon, Roger W. | year = 1998 | title =The acridity of raphides from the edible aroids | journal =Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | volume = 76 | issue = 4 | pages = 608–616 | doi = 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199804)76:4<608::AID-JSFA996>3.0.CO;2-2 | doi-access = free |bibcode=1998JSFA...76..608B }}</ref> It must be processed by cooking, soaking or fermenting – sometimes along with an acid (lime or tamarind) – before being eaten.<ref>{{cite book
 |title=The global diversity of taro: ethnobotany and conservation
 |editor=Ramanatha, R.V. |editor2=Matthews, P.J. |editor3=Eyzaguirre, P.B. |editor4=Hunter, D.
 |year=2010
 |publisher=Bioversity International
 |location=Rome (Italy)
 |isbn=978-92-9043-867-0
 |pages=9–10
 |url=http://www.bioversityinternational.org/e-library/publications/detail/the-global-diversity-of-taro-ethnobotany-and-conservation/}}
</ref>