Cyrtosperma merkusii
Cyrtosperma merkusii, conhecido pelos nomes comuns de "taro", "taro-dos-pântanos", "pulaka", "babai", entre muitos outros nomes regionais, é uma espécie de plantas com flor da família Araceae cultivada para produção de cormos amiláceos nas ilhas de Oceânia e em muitas regiões tropicais e subtropicais do sul e sueste da Ásia. Cresce apenas em terrenos alagados, sendo uma cultura dos terrenos ribeirinhos de rios e lagos e de pântanos, similar a algumas variedades de taro, mas com folhas maiores e com cormos maiores e mais ásperos quando cortados.
It is known as "puraka" in Cook Islands, "Lak" in Yap (FSM), Babai in Kiribati, "pula’a" in Samoa, "via kan" in Fiji, Pulaka in Tokelau and Tuvalu, "simiden" in Chuuk, "swam taro" in Papua New Guinea, "navia" in Vanuatu and "palawan" in the Philippines.

The same species is also known by the names "Cyrtosperma lasioides", "Cyrtosperma chamissonis" and "Cyrtosperma edule".

In the harsh atoll environments of the Central Pacific, especially Tuvalu and Kiribati, swamp taro is an important source of carbohydrates in a diet dominated by fish and coconut. Its cultivation is difficult and time-consuming, and the plant has deep cultural as well as practical significance. The roots need to be cooked for hours to reduce toxicity in the corms, but are rich in nutrients, especially calcium. The cultivation of Pulaka in Tuvalu, and babai in Kiribati, is an important cultural and culinary tradition, now under threat from rising sea level and displacement from the growing use of imported food products.

In Nepal, Giant Swamp Taro is called "mane" and grows in the tropical and sub tropical forests along stream banks. It is gathered in January-February and all plant parts (leaf, stem, rhizomes) are savored after being boiled and roasted. The stem requires prolonged boiling and the water is replaced once to remove irritating chemicals. If cooked carefully, the rhizomes taste like taro and the leaves like spinach. But without careful washing, the food causes an unpleasant tingling or scratchy sensation. 
Q7432
espécie
Concept
Q25314
plantas com flor
Concept
Q48227
Araceae
Concept
Q858568
cormo
Concept
Q25419022
amiláceo
UNK
Q538
Oceânia
LOC
Q227997
taro
Concept
Q3515765
Pulaka
Concept
Q672
Tuvalu
Concept
Q710
Kiribati
LOC
None
carbohydrate
UNK
None
corm
UNK
None
calcium
UNK
Q3515765
Pulaka
Concept
None
babai
UNK
None
sea level
UNK
Q3515765
Cyrtosperma merkusii
Concept
taxon rank