Colocasia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to southeastern Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Some species are widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions.nThe names elephant-ear and cocoyam are also used for some other large-leaved genera in the Araceae, notably Xanthosoma and Caladium. The generic name is derived from the ancient Greek word kolokasion, which in Greek, botanist Dioscorides 1st century AD may have inferred the edible roots of both Colocasia esculenta and Nelumbo nucifera.nBoth roots and leaves are eaten. In most of India and Pakistan the root is called arbi. Common preparations include cooking with curry, frying, and boiling. In Mithalanchal Bihar, the leaf is called airkanchan and is curried.nIn Gujarat, arbi leaves are used to make the dish patra. In Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, arbi, known as arabi ka patta, is used to make the dish sahina. Arbi is also a very popular dish among the Hindu community in South Africa, where it is known as patha. In Manipur, the leaves are used in the Meitei ethnic cuisine, locally known as utti pronounce ootti.
|
