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Alocasia

Alocasia

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Alocasia

Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved rhizomatous or bulbous perennials from the Family Araceae

Araceae

Araceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like hood....
. There are about 70 species of Alocasia occurring in Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
, Oceania

Oceania

Oceania is a geography, often geopolitics, region consisting of numerous lands—mostly islands in the Pacific Ocean and vicinity. The term "Oceania" was coined in 1831 by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville....
and South America

South America

South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
. The large cordate or sagittate leaves

Leaf

In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant Organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin, to expose the cells containing chloroplast to light over a broad area, and to allow light to penetrate fully into the tissues....
grow to a length of 20 to 90 cm on long petiole

Petiole (botany)

In botany, the petiole is the small stalk attaching the leaf blade to the Plant stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem....
s. Their beautiful araceous flower

Flower

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproduction structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds....
s grow at the end of a short stalk, but are not conspicuous; often hidden behind the leaf petioles.

The stem (a corm

Corm

A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant Plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
) is edible, but contains raphid

Ergastic substance

Ergastic substances are non-protoplasm materials found in Cell . The living protoplasm of a cell is sometimes called the bioplasm and distinct from the ergastic substances of the cell....
crystals of oxalic acid

Oxalic acid

Oxalic acid is the chemical compound with the chemical formula H2C2O4. This dicarboxylic acid is better described with the formula HOOCCOOH....
that can numb and swell the tongue and pharynx.

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Encyclopedia

Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved rhizomatous or bulbous perennials from the Family Araceae

Araceae

Araceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like hood....
. There are about 70 species of Alocasia occurring in Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
, Oceania

Oceania

Oceania is a geography, often geopolitics, region consisting of numerous lands—mostly islands in the Pacific Ocean and vicinity. The term "Oceania" was coined in 1831 by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville....
and South America

South America

South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
. The large cordate or sagittate leaves

Leaf

In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant Organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin, to expose the cells containing chloroplast to light over a broad area, and to allow light to penetrate fully into the tissues....
grow to a length of 20 to 90 cm on long petiole

Petiole (botany)

In botany, the petiole is the small stalk attaching the leaf blade to the Plant stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem....
s. Their beautiful araceous flower

Flower

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproduction structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds....
s grow at the end of a short stalk, but are not conspicuous; often hidden behind the leaf petioles.

The stem (a corm

Corm

A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant Plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
) is edible, but contains raphid

Ergastic substance

Ergastic substances are non-protoplasm materials found in Cell . The living protoplasm of a cell is sometimes called the bioplasm and distinct from the ergastic substances of the cell....
crystals of oxalic acid

Oxalic acid

Oxalic acid is the chemical compound with the chemical formula H2C2O4. This dicarboxylic acid is better described with the formula HOOCCOOH....
that can numb and swell the tongue and pharynx. The corms require prolonged boiling before serving or processing as a food.

Some hybrids, such as the Amazon Lily of the African Mask (Alocasia x amazonica), are grown as ornamentals.

Species

Alocasia acuminata: (Indonesia)
Alocasia aequiloba: (New Guinea)
Alocasia alba: (Sri Lanka)
Alocasia amazonica: (South East Asia)
Alocasia argyrea:
Alocasia arifolia: (Malaysia)
Alocasia atropurpurea: (Philippines)
Alocasia augustiana:
Alocasia × bachi (unplaced name)
Alocasia balgooyi: (Sulawesi)
Alocasia beccarii: (Malaysia)
Alocasia boa: (New Guinea)
Alocasia boyceana: (Philippines)
Alocasia brancifolia : (New Guinea)
Alocasia brisbanensis
Alocasia brisbanensis

Alocasia brisbanensis is a species of plant in the family Araceae. Its common name is cunjevoi or native lily. It is native to rainforests of Eastern Australia....
: Cunjevoi, Spoon Lily (Australia)
Alocasia cadieri: (SE Asia)
Alocasia celebica: (Sulawesi)
Alocasia × chantrieri: (unplaced name)
Alocasia × chantrieriana: (unplaced name)
Alocasia clypeolata: Green Shield (Philippines)
Alocasia × conspicua (= A. longiloba × A.odora ) (unplaced name)
Alocasia coriacea: (unplaced name)
Alocasia cucullata: Chinese Taro (Indonesia)
Alocasia culionensis: (Philippines)
Alocasia cuprea: (Borneo)
Alocasia decipiens : (Indonesia)
Alocasia decumbens : (Vietnam)
Alocasia denudata: (Singapore)
Alocasia devansayana : (New Guinea)
Alocasia evrardii : (SE Asia) (unplaced name)
Alocasia fallax : (East Himalaya to Bangladesh)
Alocasia flabellifera : (New Guinea)
Alocasia flemingiana : (Java)
Alocasia fornicata : (Indonesia)
Alocasia gageana : (Myanmar)

Alocasiamacrorrhiza1web

*Alocasia × gaulainii : (unplaced name)

Alocasia grandis : (Indonesia) (unplaced name)
Alocasia grata : (Indonesia)
Alocasia hainanensis : (Hainan, China)
Alocasia hainaica : (Hainan to N. Vietnam)
Alocasia heterophylla : (Philippines)
Alocasia hollrungii : (New Guinea)
Alocasia infernalis : (Borneo)
Alocasia inornata: (Sumatra)
Alocasia kerinciensis : (Sumatra)
Alocasia lancifolia : (New Guinea)
Alocasia lauterbachiana : (New Guinea)
Alocasia longiloba: (Malaysia)
Alocasia macrorrhizos
Alocasia macrorrhizos

Alocasia macrorrhizos is the "giant taro" or "elephant ear taro" of the Pacific islands. Its Polynesia name is Ape . It is edible if cooked for a long time but has irritant sap....
: Giant Taro, Elephant Ear, Ape flower (SE Asia, Australia, Pacific)

Alocasia macrorrhizos
Alocasia macrorrhizos

Alocasia macrorrhizos is the "giant taro" or "elephant ear taro" of the Pacific islands. Its Polynesia name is Ape . It is edible if cooked for a long time but has irritant sap....
var. brisbanensis : (Australia)

Alocasia maquilingensis : (Philippines)
Alocasia melo : (Borneo)
Alocasia micholitziana: Elephant’s Ear Plant (Philippines)
Alocasia minuscula : (Borneo)
Alocasia monticola : (New Guinea)
Alocasia × mortfontanensis : (unplaced name)
Alocasia navicularis : (Himalaya)
Alocasia nebula : (Borneo)
Alocasia nicolsonii : (New Guinea)
Alocasia odora
Alocasia odora

Alocasia odora is a flowering plant native to Asia. Its stems are used as a green vegetable in the cuisines of Southeast Asia, and often used to flavor soups or Stir frying dishes....
: Night-scented Lily (SE Asia, China)
Alocasia pangeran : (Borneo)
Alocasia peltata : (Borneo)
Alocasia perakensis : (Malaysia)
Alocasia portei : (New Guinea)
Alocasia princeps : (Malaysia)
Alocasia principiculus : (Borneo)
Alocasia puber : (Java)
Alocasia puteri : (Borneo)
Alocasia putii : (Thailand) (unplaced name)
Alocasia pyrospatha : (New Guinea)
Alocasia ramosii : (Philippines)
Alocasia rapiformis : (Myanmar) (unplaced name)
Alocasia regina : (Borneo)
Alocasia reginula: Black Velvet (cultivated)
Alocasia reversa : (Philippines)
Alocasia ridleyi : (Borneo)
Alocasia robusta : (Borneo)
Alocasia × rodigasiana : (unplaced name)
Alocasia sanderiana
Alocasia sanderiana

Alocasia sanderiana is an ornamental plant in the Araceae family, which is native to the Philippines.General aspect and origins -Alocasia sanderiana is also known as the kris plant....
: (Malaysia)
Alocasia sarawakensis : (Borneo)
Alocasia scabriuscula : (Borneo)
Alocasia scalprum : (Philippines)
Alocasia × sedeni : (unplaced name)
Alocasia simonsiana : (New Guinea)
Alocasia sinuata : (Malaysia)
Alocasia suhirmaniana : (Sulawesi)
Alocasia x van-houtteana : (unplaced name)
Alocasia venusta: (Borneo)
Alocasia wentii: New Guinea Shield (New Guinea)
Alocasia wongii : (Borneo)
Alocasia zebrina: (Philippines)

All hybrids have been obtained artificially.