Vietnamese Name: Bạc Hà

Common Culinary Name: Elephant ear stalks/stems

Botanical Family & Name: Araceae, Alocasia  Odora

Vegetative Description: Large bulbous (with rhizomes) plant with large palm like leaves and thick, spongy stalks.

Native Habitat & Ecology: Asia, South America

Tasting Note: The thick, spongy stems have a very mild, grassy flavor.

Culinary Uses: Stems (petioles) are peeled then cut up to cook in fish soups and some stir-frys. The sponginess texture of the stems absorb the flavors of the soup  and adds texture to the dishes.

Medicinal Uses: Used medicinally to reduce sputum and the corm of the plant ground up to place in epileptic patients mouth to reduce attacks. Propagation: By seeds, cuttings or rhizome division

Other Names: