Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_colocasia_esculenta
Taro
Colocasia esculenta
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About Taro
kalo is a wetland crop in the Kauaʻi vascular and land plants group. Its origin status is polynesian introduction.
Kauaʻi evidence
Species identity and image source are documented. Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Colocasia esculenta
- Common names
- Taro
- Hawaiian names
- Kalo
- Family
- Araceae
- Order
- Alismatales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Documented on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Polynesian introduction
- Conservation status
- Conservation priority; formal rank not listed
- Evidence date
- 2026-09-13
- Evidence limits
- No major occurrence uncertainty noted
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Loi · Taro fields · Wetland agriculture · Stream-fed valleys
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Wetland crop
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Disease, invasive apple snails, water diversion, flooding, contamination
- Conservation actions
- Protect water flows, cultivar stewardship, integrated pest management
- Monitoring
- Protect water flows, cultivar stewardship, integrated pest management
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- kalo is a wetland crop in the Kauaʻi vascular and land plants group. Its origin status is polynesian introduction.
