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Alocasia macrorrhizos

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Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don

Family Name: Araceae
Synonyms: Arum macrorrhizon L., Alocasia gigas Chantrier ex André, Alocasia grandis N.E.Br., Alocasia plumbea Van Houtte, Caladium macrorrhizon (L.) R.Br.Colocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott
Common Name: Giant Taro, Greater Alocasia, Birah Negeri, Elephant's Ear

Alocasia macrorrhizos, or also known as Giant Taro, is a large perennial herb that produces a rosette of large, erect leaves. This species can be differentiated from the similar-looking Asian Taro (A. odora) by the naked sinus of the leaves, the longer appendix, and a usually solitary habit.

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic
Plant Shape Open
Maximum Height 4 m

Biogeography

Native Habitat Terrestrial (Agricultural Land, Disturbed Area / Open Ground)
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal
Local Conservation Status Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is a perennial herb that can reach up to 4 m, usually solitary, with 0 - 2 offshoots from the base.
Foliage The leaves are held upright and arranged in a rosette at the tip of the stems. The petioles (leaf stalks) can grow up to 1.3 m long. The leaf blades are rounded, arrowhead-shaped, bluntly triangular in shape, growing up to 1.2 m long and 0.5 m wide. The sinus (indentation where the leaf stalk connects to the lateral lobes in aroids) is naked or open, with no connecting leaf blade between the posterior/lateral lobes.
Stems The stems are underground corms (thick, often round, modified stems) that elongate as the plant ages, either growing erect or decumbent (lying along the ground with the leafy shoot curving upwards).
Flowers The inflorescence is an off-white spadix comprising of an appendix (a sterile rod-like upper portion of the spadix) and tiny fertile flowers in the lower portion. The appendix is equal to or exceeds half the length of the entire spadix. The spadix is subtended by a spathe; an upper portion is open, white to yellowish-green, and a bulbous, green enclosed portion surrounds the female flowers, separated by a tight 'waist'. The upper portion of the spathe becomes hood-like when the male flowers mature. The peduncle (inflorescence stalk) barely extends beyond the cataphyll (leaf-like structure that surrounds and protects a newly emerging leaf blade in aroids).
Fruit The infructescence is composed of multiple ellipsoid berries that turn red when ripe. The bulbous portion of the spathe peels back as the fruit mature.
Habitat It can be found along roadsides and margins of wet fields from 0 - 500 m above sea level.
Similar This species is often confused with Alocasia odora but can be differentiated by its naked sinus on the leaves, the longer appendix, and usually solitary with 0 - 2 offshoots from the base.Alocasia odora has a closed sinus on its leaves, an appendix 1/3 the length of the spadix, and the production of several offshoots from the base.
Cultivation This species grows best in bright light with light shade and moist, but well-drained loamy soil. However, it can tolerate shade to full sun, and sandy to clayey soils.
Etymology The generic epithet Alocasia is derived from the Greek terms, a- "not" and kolokāsiā "lotus root", alluding to its similarity to Colocasia, a closely-allied genus. The specific epithet macrorrhizos is Greek for "large roots," possibly referring to the thick, root-like stems.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form
Landscape Uses Parks & Gardens, Focal Plant
Thematic Landscaping Economic Garden, Bioswales / Sunken Garden, Naturalistic Garden
Usage Hazard - Cons Irritant - Sap, Toxic Upon Ingestion
Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks Irritant Sap/ Toxic Upon Ingestion: The slightly milky sap contains calcium oxalate raphides, which are needle-shaped crystals that can cause irritation to skin, mouth and throat. Keep plants away from children and pets.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s) Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference Lots of Water, Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Fast to Moderate
Rootzone Tolerance Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils
Potential Problems In wet, poorly-drained soil, the corms are prone to rot.
Pest(s) Chewing Insects
Propagation Method Seed, Storage Organ (Corm)

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s) Glossy / Shiny, Thick, Leathery
Foliar Modification Flower/Fruit Bract
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Rosulate / Rosette
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage (Sagittate)
Foliar Margin Entire - Wavy / Undulate
Foliar Apex - Tip Acute
Foliar Base Hastate
Typical Foliar Area Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Root Type Underground (Fibrous Root)
Specialised Storage Organ(s) Underground (Corm)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Colour(s) Cream / Off-White, White
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location Axillary
Inflorescence Type Spathe & Spadix
Ovary Position Superior / Hypogynous
Flowering Habit Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Red
Fruit Classification Simple Fruit
Fruit Type Fleshy Fruit , Berry
Mature Seed Colour(s) Brown
Seed Quantity Per Fruit Few (1-5)

References

References

Boyce, P.C. (2008). A review of Alocasia (Araceae: Colocasiae) for Thailand including a novel species and new species records from South-West Thailand. Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 36:1-17.

Sutarno, H. (2003). Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia.

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Master ID 340
Species ID 1636
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 26 June 2025.
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