6 BULLETIN 1247, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Vermelho, S. P. I. No. 19997—The department introduced this 
variety (Pl. IV ) from Madeira in 1906. 
Culcas (qgolqas), S. P. I. No. 39892.—The true culcas (fig. 2) of 
Egypt was received from the Department of Agriculture at Cairo in 
1915. 
Malanga (from Trinidad), S. P. I. No. 30273—This was intro- 
duced in 1911. 
In appearance the foregoing are not fig snes from the 
elephant-ear. All have proved less desirable than many other taros 
ig. 2—A medium-sized corm (about natural size) of the culeas, Colocasia anti-. 
quorum (L.) Schott, received direct from Egypt. Compare the rough surface of 
this corm with the smoother surface of C. esculenta (fig. 1) and that of Colocasia 
sp., S. P. I. No. 47147 (fig. 7). (P20388FS.) 
for food purposes. They usually do not cook mealy and are of in- 
ferior flavor. Like most taros, the flesh of the varieties of this species 
becomes somewhat violet colored when cooked, and this fact accounts 
for the word “ blue ” sometimes used in the local name of the tanyah 
inentioned. 
Ong-hwa taro, S. P. I. No. 45777.—This variety was received from 
Mrs. W. M. Loosley, Sienku, Chekiang, China. Although in general 
the red taro is of rather inferior quality, the Ong-hwa (Mandarin 
name Hong hwa) as raised in Florida has prove ed very good. The 
