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I am fairly certain that this is Colocasia esculenta, probably the most common species grown. I have absolutely no clue which variety this might be. I've read of its being called 'wild taro, although I've found this tag for other species and genera, too.
Confusion seems rife on the net regarding the different types of Colocasia esculenta. Even according to various aroid gurus on Aroid-L, there is some disagreement. As nearly as I can determine, there are three main types:
Several synonyms for Colocasia esculenta
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- The dasheen type (or araimo in Hawaii), which, in the US, have one large oval or trunk-like central rhizome/tuber/corm (it's referred to by all three names in various references). there are several varieties with different colors, flavors and textures; some with white-fleshed oval tubers, others with gray/blue fleshed tubers. The leaves generally have a dark spot in the center, lacking in the eddoe forms. All are varieties of Colocasia esculenta esculenta. In Hawaii, where most dasheen taro was introduced from Asia, the dasheen refers to varieties that produce small corms (smaller than fist sized) and send out runners.
- The eddoe type, who produce many small, oval tubers/corms from the central, slim underground portion of the rhizome. There are at least two types of these, either C. esculenta var. antiquorum or C. esculenta var. globulifera.
- The third type produces many stolons but only small or no tubers/corms. It occurs in many forms with many leaf colors and is used for leaves that are cooked and eaten similar to spinach and for "wraps". Some of these contain less crystals of oxalate in their leaves than others. It appears that there are many names for this type, but they may not have any scientific standing. Some now grow as invasive weeds in Florida.
There are literally countless varieties or forms of Colocasia throughout the tropics. In Hawaii, there are over three hundred names for taro varieties, but many are local terms for single cultivars. I have read that it is also generally accepted that there were easily over a hundred varieties in the past since Hawaii cultivated taro more than most Polynesian cultures.
Even given the above, a post I saved from Aroid-L stated:
"Dan Nicolson (Flora Vitiensis Nova 1, 1979) and I (Sandakania 7, 1996) came to the conclusion that subspecies and botanical varieties of Colocasia esculenta are pretty meaningless. The whole thing (wild types and cultivars) should botanically just be called C. esculenta, and (the) diversity of cultivated forms reflected in cultivar and cultivar group nomenclature."
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