CD had asked Thiselton-Dyer to identify this plant in his letter of 25 June [1878]. Colocasia antiquorum is an invalid synonym, and Caladium esculentum is a synonym, of Colocasia esculenta (coco yam or wild taro).
CD describes experiments on the sleep of Caladium esculentum in Movement of plants, pp. 390–1; CD’s notes on his experiments with water are in DAR 66: 125 and 127.