Elephant’s ear (Colocasia esculenta) is a tuberous evergreen tropical perennial which is known for its heart-shaped or arrow-shaped, soft velvety, rich-green leaves.
These plants are commonly found in a number of households in Kenya. The leaves, stem and roots of this plant contain raphides, which are tiny, needle-shaped crystals made up of insoluble calcium oxalate. However, some edible plants including spinach also contain calcium oxalate, albeit the type (block-shaped crystal) that are less irritant and are significantly reduced by cooking.
Damage to the plant cells during chewing causes water to enter and swell up . . .
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