Roots tuberous, often purplish; leaves ovate-cordate, basal lobes rounded, peltate, tips pointing down, apiculate, usually glaucous, up to 60 em long and 40 em wide, petioles to 1 m tall; inflorescence shorter than leaves; spathe yellow; spadix shorter, cylindric.

Tropical Asia and the Pacific; a common domestic plant in the region, the tubers edible, starchy, providing a potato-like food or (in Hawaii) a thickish, slightly fermented liquid called poi. The young leaves are also edible when cooked.

Many forms exist, differing in color, ability to tolerate dry ground, size, etc. Flowering is rare, fruiting very rare. Usually cultivated in wet or swampy soil.