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Alocasia cucullata

(Lour.) G.Don (1839)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Alismatales Family: Araceae Genus: Alocasia

Chinese ‘ape [Chinese ape], Chinese taro

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Herbs, clumping, small to medium sized, somewhat robust, to 1 m, evergreen, latex–bearing.

Stems: Stems erect, hypogeal, basally much branched.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Spirally arranged. Blades broadly ovate–cordate, 10–40 × 7–28 cm. Apex acute. Base shallowly cordate. Margins entire. Primary veins 4 on each side, radiating from petiole, arching, interprimary veins not forming a collective vein, wax glands present in axils of primary lateral veins and midrib. Petioles weakly D–shaped in cross section, 25–30(–80) cm, sheath reaching to ca. ½ way, margins membranous. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences rarely produced, usually solitary, sometimes paired, among leaf bases, subtended by membranous cataphylls; peduncle 20–30 cm. spathe green, persistent, erect, convolute, gaping only basally, strongly constricted between tube and blade, 9–15 cm; proximal spathe 4–8 × ca. 2.5 cm; limb narrowly cymbiform, 5–10 × 3–5 cm. spadix 8–14 cm; female zone cylindric, 1.5–2.5 cm × ca. 7 mm; sterile zone 2–3 cm × ca. 3 mm; male zone yellow, ca. 3.4 cm × 8 mm; appendix yellowish, narrowly conic, ca. 3.5 cm × 5 mm. Flowers unisexual, naked. Calyx absent. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens connate into synandria; thecae lateral, dehiscing by apical pore; synandrodes shallow, obpyramidal, compressed, truncate. Ovary superior; ovule placentation basal; stylar region short; stigma depressed capitate. Funicle short.

Fruit: Fruit rarely produced; a subglobose berry; 6–8 mm in diam.; ripening red; stigma remnants persistent. Seeds rather large; seed coat thickish; embryo broadly conic; broadly cylindric; or elongate; endosperm copious.

Ploidy: 2n = 28

Habitat: Watersides; by fields.

Elevation Range: below 2,000 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: R.Sweet, Hort. Brit., ed. 3: 631 (1839)

Other References

Staples et al. 2003:8 (NEWNAT/EM, H, DESCR); Staples & Herbst 2005:598 (KEY, DESCR); Oppenheimer 2007:18 (Mo); Imada 2007:35 (O); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:155 (K)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu: Manoa Valley; H.S.Lyon Arboretum; Cottage D Preserved_Specimen Clumping herb; lvs cordate. Ishikawa, S. 485 Oahu BISH 1979-02-13
2 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu: Kapalama; Bishop Museum courtyard Preserved_Specimen Ca. 3' tall, rhizome erect, standing above soil; infl. hidden among lvs, fetid smelling; spathe green, spadix whitish. Herbst, D.R. 9709 Oahu BISH 1994-12-17
3 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu: Manoa Valley; Manoa Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1930-02-03
4 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu: Hall Street Preserved_Specimen Luke, K. 68 Oahu BISH 1960-12-30
5 Alocasia cucullata Wailau Valley Preserved_Specimen Locally common clumping plants. Seems to spread by rhizomes, and possibly seed, but only vegetative plants observed. Oppenheimer, H.L. 80502 Molokai BISH 2005-08-12
6 Alocasia cucullata Halelea Dist.; Limahuli Valley, NTBG Preserved_Specimen Erect herb 3' high; rhizome w/multiple branches, covered w/dried brown leaf sheaths; petiole green; lvs clustered at tips of rhizomes; blades dark green w/lighter green veins, faintly glossy, below paler, glossy w/whitish-green midvein; peduncle faintly yellowish green; spathe: lower half closed around base of spadix, dark green, upper half whitish-green; spadix sickeningly sweet, female flr whitish-green, male flr cream. Flynn, T.W. 3767 Kauai BISH 1990-02-15
7 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu: Kalia Road.; J. A. Wilder's place Preserved_Specimen Wilder, G.P. Oahu BISH 1934-02-13
8 Alocasia cucullata Koolaupoko distr., Waimanalo, Kakaina St. Shaded understory along stream, growing on banks in deep shade on moist red clay soil. Preserved_Specimen Herbaceous aroid forming small clumps here and there. No inflorescences seen. Staples, G.W. 1223 Oahu BISH 2005-02-17
9 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu: Garden of collector Preserved_Specimen Cox, Mrs.I. Oahu BISH 1934-03-28
10 Alocasia cucullata East Maui, Keanae Arboretum Sparingly naturalized in shady understory of surrounding forest. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2490 Maui BISH 1986-01-23
11 Alocasia cucullata Kawaihau District: Wailua Homesteads, Nounou Trail Kuamoo entrance, along the stream near the bridge, growing in raised bed in Opaekaa Stream. Invaded riparian corridor W/ Megathyrsus maximus, Sphagnetiocola triloba, Ipomoea ochracea, Citharexylum caudatum, Commelina diffusa, Persea americana, Psidium cattleianum, Macrophbilium, Costus, Cyperus, Philodendron rubrum, E Preserved_Specimen Several clumps. Leaves wrinkled betweeen the veins, spathe upright and glaucous with a slight smell that is no unpleasant. Dark stem on ground winding around. Alocasia cf. calidora Tangalin, N. 5168 Kauai BISH 2021-04-16
12 Alocasia cucullata Koolaupoko distr., Waimanalo, Kakaina St. Shaded understory along stream, growing on banks in deep shade on moist red clay soil. Preserved_Specimen Herbaceous aroid forming small clumps here and there. No inflorescences seen. Staples, G.W. 1223 Oahu BISH 2005-02-17
13 Alocasia cucullata Hamakua District, Kukuihaele quad, Waipio Valley Common clumping herb on roadside bank across from Tom Araki hotel in understory of alien forest. This species is ubiquitous along roads throughout the valley. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 200120 Hawaii BISH 2001-03-13
14 Alocasia cucullata Laie; Church College of Hawaii Common in shady areas. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 12' diam.; blade rounded, heart-shape, shiny green; petiole long. Higuchi, G.T. 34 Oahu BISH 1971-05-07
15 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu, Bishop Museum base of kukui tree Preserved_Specimen ~3'; rhizome erect, above soil; inflorescence hidden among leaves, foetid; spath green, spadix whitish Herbst, D.R. 9709 Oahu BISH 1994-12-17
16 Alocasia cucullata Honolulu: Nuuanu area, 2616 Pali Hwy Shady moist location. Preserved_Specimen Clumping plant w/stems rising to 20 cm above gound level; lvs reach up to 1.2 m above ground. Lau, J. 1638 Oahu BISH 1985-11-16
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