Plant Management in Florida Waters - An Integrated Approach

Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences & Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Invasive Plant Management Section

Wild taro

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Quick Facts MORE INFO
Scientific name	Colocasia esculenta
Origin	India, Southeast Asia
Introduction	Early 1900s, food crop
Aquatic community	Emergent
Habitat	Wet soils, shallow water, floating islands
Distribution	Statewide
Management effort	Eradicate new colonies
2017 public waters / plant acres	256 (55%) / 244
2017 Waters / acres controlled	7 / 12

Colocasia esculenta

Colocasia esculenta

Management Options
Biological	None available
Chemical	Imazamox, 2,4-D + diquat + Kinetic, glyphosate
Mechanical	Harvest floating mats; roots fragment into new plant
Physical	Hand pulling; use caution due to oxalic acid irritant in plant Need to remove entire rhizome or plant will regrow

Environmental and Economic Concerns

Displaces native plants, especially along shaded shorelines and in wooded wetlands
One of the most widely dispersed invasive aquatic plants in Florida’s public water bodies
- present in about 55% of Florida public waters
Shoreline populations break loose, forming floating islands
- block access
- cover native plant habitat
Roots in new areas, spreading the infestation

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Status of the Aquatic Plant Maintenance Program in Florida Public Waters, Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2016-2017.