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Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Metallica'
| Family Name: | Araceae |
| Synonyms: | Alocasia indica 'Metallica', Alocasia plumbea 'Metallica' |
| Common Name: | Elephant's Ear, Taro |
Name
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Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1.5 m to 2.5 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 3 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | East Indies |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Others - Plant Morphology | Herbaceous shrub, up to 2.5m height. Leaves very large, heart-shaped, silvery green sheen above, purplish veins on underside, prominent veins. Monoecious species (separate male and female flowers on same plant).Suitable for indoor landscaping. All parts of plant toxic upon ingestion, or may cause contact irritation. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Easy to Grow, Disease / Pest Resistant |
| Landscape Uses | General, Swimming Poolside, Focal Plant, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant |
| SGMP Treatment | |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Irritant - Sap, Toxic Upon Ingestion |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | All parts of plant contains needle-like calcium oxalate crystals. May cause skin irritation upon contact. Irritates lips, mouth, tongue and throat, and cause difficulty in speaking. Can cause nausea, diarrhoea, delirium and death upon injestion. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Sucker, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Raised / Sunken Veins, Thick |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Deltoid) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Non Woody |
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Unisexual Flowers |
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 2 | Monoecious |
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 342 |
| Species ID | 1638 |
| 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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