What does taro mean in Japanese?

Taro is a plant indigenous to tropical regions. It is cultivated for its root, which is used as food. The leaves can be eaten as well, but the corm, or "storage area" at the root is processed in different ways for inclusion in the diet of the islanders. A link can be found below, and you can see pictures of the plant and its "root part" there as well as read more about it.