East-Himalayan Decorated Taro

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• East-Himalayan Decorated Taro

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Colocasia bicolor
• Alocasia jenningsii
• Colocasia affinis var. jenningsii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Aliasmaetales, it is classified under the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Colocasia, specifically as the species Colocasia affinis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within the Asian continent. In East Asia, its presence is noted specifically in South-Central China. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of India and Bangladesh. Its range also extends to the unique environmental zones of Assam and the East Himalaya. Together, these locations highlight the significant geographical footprint of Colocasia affinis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Colocasia affinis is characterized by its specialized survival strategies, functioning primarily as a geophyte and a cryptophyte. As a geophyte, the plant relies on underground storage organs, such as fleshy tubers or rhizomes, to persist through unfavorable environmental conditions, allowing it to regenerate once favorable moisture and temperature levels return. This underground existence is further classified under the broader life form of a cryptophyte, meaning that its perennating buds are protected beneath the soil surface or within specialized underground structures, shielding them from desiccation and extreme temperature fluctuations. This dual classification underscores its ability to maintain a perennial presence in its habitat, cycling through periods of active foliage growth and dormant subterranean survival.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Colocasia affinis is characterized by its growth habit as a self-supporting plant, as it does not function as a climber through obligatory, facultative, or self-supporting mechanisms. It is an independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic behavior, functioning entirely without reliance on a host. Furthermore, rather than being an epiphyte, this species is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Colocasia affinis has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antimicrobial.

Analgesic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Colocasia affinis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract of leaves of CA.

Ethanolic extract of leaves of ca

1. Journal of inflammation research