Taro flourished in the Qing Dynasty.

Taro is native to China and tropical places such as India and the Malay Peninsula. Cultivation has long been carried out in the north and south of China. Egypt, the Philippines, Indonesia Java and other tropical areas are also prevalent cultivation, as the main food. Because taro likes high temperature and humidity, the more the cultivation habit to the south, the more prevalent. Growth and development requires a mild and humid environment.

The earliest reliable literature on taro for the Western Han Dynasty - Sima Qian, "Historical Records? Xiangyu Chronicle": "This year's famine and poverty, the soldiers eat taro beans." Meaning that during the year of famine, soldiers to taro and soybean to fill their stomachs with hunger. Xiang Yu's base in the "Chu", should have been taro cultivation. The name "taro" according to the Eastern Han Dynasty, scribe, scribe Xu Shen, "Shuowen" contained: "large leaves, solid roots, appalling, so called taro." Means that the Central Plains people first saw the taro's large leaves, exclaimed out loud "appeal", so the plant is called "taro".

Taro introduction

Taro, wet herb. Tubers usually ovate, often bearing numerous small bulbs, all rich in starch. Leaves 2~3 or more. Petiole longer than leaf blade, 20~90 cm long, green, leaf blade ovate, 20~50 cm long, apex mucronate or short acuminate, lateral veins 4 pairs, obliquely extending to leaf margin, posterior lobes rounded, connate length up to 1/2~1/3, curved notch obtuse, 3~5 cm deep, basal veins intersecting at an angle of 30 degrees, outer lateral veins 2~3, inner 1~2 strips, inconspicuous. Inflorescence stalk often solitary, shorter than petiole.

Taro is suitable for warm and humid climate, in 13 ~ 15 ℃ to start budding, the growing period requires more than 20 ℃, the bulb in 27 ~ 30 ℃ when the development of good, and requires sufficient nutrients, water and day and night temperature difference and short sunshine. Soil to fertile, strong water retention of clay loam, pH 4 ~ 9, and pH 5.5 ~ 7 is the most suitable. Born in the hills and low mountains along the streams and gullies, especially farmland and ponds are more common.