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Alocasia macrorrhizos
| Family Name: | Araceae |
| Common Name: | Giant Taro, Greater Alocasia, Birah Negeri, Elephant's Ear |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
|---|---|
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Asia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Agricultural Land, Secondary Rainforest, Riverine, Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A glabrous herbaceous plant, growing up to 5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Arranged in rosettes, ascending; leaf blades are flattened, pointing upwards, measures 25 - 50 cm by 20 - 35 cm, green in colour, slightly glossy, arrow-shaped, apex acute, base hastate, margin wavy, petiole measuring 60 - 100 cm long. |
| Stems | Acaulescent, has a short corm, produces sap and has an elongated caudex as it grows. |
| Flowers | Inflorescences, enfolded by bracts; peduncles are 20 - 45 cm long, spathe white - yellowish green with 15 - 35 cm long, lower part folds into a green tube; spadix 11 - 32 cm long, pistil 3 -4 cm long and 1.5 cm thick. |
| Fruits | Fleshy berry, globose or ovoid in shape, turns red when matures. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Storage Organs) Food (Fruit & Vegetable : In Southeastern Asia (eg: India, Bangladesh and Malaysia) the tuberous stem is peeled and cooked as vegetable in stews. ) |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Pond / Lake / River |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Requires prolonged preparation and boiling to get rid of calcium oxalate crystals. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Storage Organ (Corm, Tuberous Stem), Sucker |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Modification | Storage Organ |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Hastate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|---|
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
Image Repository
Others
| 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. |
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