a familiar food plant, Colocasia species, widely cultivated in tropicalregions, especially in Polynesia. The word is Polynesian,and much used by the Maoris.
1846. J. Lindley, `Vegetable Kingdom,' p. 128 [Stanford]:
«Whole fields of Colocasia macrorhyza are cultivatedin the South Sea Islands under the name tara or kopeh roots.»
1872. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 374:
«Many a bed,
That late in such luxurious neatness spread,
Of melons, maize and taro – – now a wreck.»
1878. Lady Brassey, `Voyage in the Sunbeam,' p. 263:
«A good-looking man was busy broiling beef-steaks, stewingchickens and boiling taro, and we had soon a plentifulrepast set before us.»