Cocco, Coco Root

Cocco, Coco Root, or EDDOES, plants of the genus Colocasia, and of the nearly allied genus Caladium, of the order Araceæ, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries for their edible starchy root-stocks, of which the food-value broadly corresponds to the potato. These are deprived by roasting or boiling of the characteristic acridity of the order, which, indeed, some of them possess in a comparatively small degree. They are sometimes included under the name Yam, but are totally different from the true Yam (q.v.). The names more strictly belong to Colocasia antiquorum, a stemless plant with ovate leaves, and flowers inclosed in a cylindrical erect spathe. This is a native of India, but was early introduced to Egypt and the Mediterranean countries, whence it has now passed even to America. C. esculenta, C. macrorhiza, or Taro (q.v.), and C. Himalensis are also of economic importance in different parts of the world, and many species of these and allied genera are to be seen in European hothouses, where their handsome foliage has gained them an important place.