ABOUT 'COLOCASIA ESCULENTA' PLANT
Lasia spinosa
FAMILY:- ARACEAE
BOTANICAL NAME:- Lasia spinosa
VERNACULAR NAMES :
SINHALA : Kohila, Kohowila
TAMIL : Kohila
DESCRIPTION:
A shutout, spiny, marshy plant with a creeping spiny rootstock 2-3 cm diameter;
LEAVES:- Simple, long petioled, 15-45 cm long, 5-32 cm broad;
FLOWERS:- Spadix 3 cm long, 0.9 cm diameter, cylindrical, blunt at apex, Orange red in colour, densely clothed in bisexual, sessile.
FRUITS:- Not seen. (Jayaweera, 1981).
DISTRIBUTION :
Grows in marshy places in tropical India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malay, Peninsula and China (Jayaweera, 1981). In Sri Lanka, it is cultivated in the moist low- country for it is young leaves and rhizomes which are eaten.
EDIBLE PARTS: Young leaves and rhizome
FOOD USE: Both young leaves and rhizomes are eaten as a vegetable.
NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC VALUE:
(Tubers)
Moisture - 85.9 g,
Energy - 53 Kcal,
Protein - 1.7 g,
Fat - 0.1 g ,
Carbohydrates 11.3 g,
Minerals - Calcium - 21.0 mg,
Phosphorus - 74.0 mg,
Iron - 0.4 mg,
Thiamin 100 meg,
Vitamin C - 22 mg
(Leaves)
Moisture - 89.8 g,
Energy - 34.0 Kcal,
Protein - 4.0 g,
Fat - 0.6 g,
Carbohydrate 3.2 g,
Calcium - 155 mg,
Phosporus - 26.0 mg,
Iron - 16.3 mg,
Vitamin A - 1311.0 mg,
Thiamine - 30 mg. (Weerakoon, 1993).
The leaves, stems, roots are used as a common remedy for piles (Jayaweera, 1981)
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE :
A temperature of 25-35°C is required. It is grows well in marshy places in the Tropics. Fertile, alluvial soils are required for an optimum development.
CULTIVATION:
Areas for planting - In the low country wet zone.
Planting season - Planting is generally done with the rains either in the Maha or Yala.
Planting material -The tuberous outgrowths of the fully developed corms are planted. Planting holes are prepared in the same way as for dioscorea yams.
Time to harvest - The corms can be dug out for use about 12 months after planting.
STORAGE :
The corms can be stored for long periods if stored dry in a well ventilated room. Leaves can be stored in moist place for three days.
