Taro

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

taro
    n 1: edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants [syn: {taro},
         {cocoyam}, {dasheen}, {eddo}]
    2: herb of the Pacific islands grown throughout the tropics for
       its edible root and in temperate areas as an ornamental for
       its large glossy leaves [syn: {taro}, {taro plant}, {dalo},
       {dasheen}, {Colocasia esculenta}]
    3: tropical starchy tuberous root [syn: {taro}, {taro root},
       {cocoyam}, {dasheen}, {edda}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Taro \Ta"ro\, n. [From the Polynesian name.] (Bot.)
   A name for several aroid plants ({Colocasia antiquorum}, var.
   esculenta, {Colocasia macrorhiza}, etc.), and their
   rootstocks. They have large ovate-sagittate leaves and large
   fleshy tuberous rootstocks, which are cooked and used for
   food in tropical countries.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Colocasia \Colocasia\ n.
   a small genus of perennial tuberous herbs of the arum family,
   of tropical Asia and the Pacific islands, including the
   {taro} ({Colocasia esculente}).

   Syn: genus {Colocasia}.
        [WordNet 1.5]

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