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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

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

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 2005:595, 598 (KEY), 598 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2007:18 (Mo); Imada 2007:35 (O)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don 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.t. collector number: 2001-20 Hawaii BISH 3/13/2001
2 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don wailau valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h80502 Oahu BISH 8/12/2005
3 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu, bishop museum base of kukui tree PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. staples, g. collector number: 9709 Oahu BISH 12/17/1994
4 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Koolaupoko distr., Waimanalo, Kakaina St. Shaded understory along stream, growing on banks in deep shade on moist red clay soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Staples, G.W. Collector Number: 1223 Oahu BISH 2/17/2005
5 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu: kapalama; bishop museum courtyard in Metrosideros forest. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. staples iii, g.w. collector number: 9709 Maui BISH 12/17/1994
6 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu: manoa valley; h.s.lyon arboretum; cottage d PRESERVED_SPECIMEN ishikawa, s. collector number: 485 Maui BISH 2/13/1979
7 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don 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.T. 2001-20 Hawaii BISH 3/13/2001
8 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu, Bishop Museum base of kukui tree PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 9709 Oahu BISH 12/17/1994
9 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don east maui, keanae arboretum Sparingly naturalized in shady understory of surrounding forest. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hobdy, r.w. collector number: 2490 Maui BISH 1/23/1986
10 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don halelea dist.; limahuli valley, ntbg PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 3767 Kauai BISH 2/15/1990
11 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu: kalia road.; j. a. wilder's place PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wilder, g.p. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 2/13/1934
12 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu: nuuanu area, 2616 pali hwy Shady moist location. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. et al. collector number: 1638 Oahu BISH 11/16/1985
13 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don 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.T. Collector Number: 2001-20 Hawaii BISH 3/13/2001
14 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu: manoa valley; manoa arboretum PRESERVED_SPECIMEN caum, e.l. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 2/3/1930
15 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Limahuli Valley. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 3767 Kauai PTBG 2/15/1990
16 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Wailau Valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H80502 Molokai BISH 8/12/2005
17 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu: garden of collector PRESERVED_SPECIMEN cox, mrs.i. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/28/1934
18 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don koolaupoko distr., waimanalo, kakaina st. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN staples, g.w. collector number: 1223 Hawaii BISH 2/17/2005
19 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don koolaupoko distr., waimanalo, kakaina st. Shaded understory along stream, growing on banks in deep shade on moist red clay soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN staples, g.w. collector number: 1223 Oahu BISH 2/17/2005
20 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don PRESERVED_SPECIMEN thomas b. croat croat 45020 MO 12/7/1978
21 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don laie; church college of hawaii Common in shady areas. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN higuchi, g.t. collector number: 34 Oahu BISH 5/7/1971
22 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don honolulu: hall street PRESERVED_SPECIMEN luke, k. collector number: 68 Oahu BISH 12/30/1960
23 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Wailau Valley. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H80502 Molokai PTBG 8/12/2005
24 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don PRESERVED_SPECIMEN d. couture 25 VT 3/8/1976
25 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Halelea Dist, Limahuli Valley, National Tropical Botanical Garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. W. 3767 Kauai US 2/15/1990
26 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don h.l. lyon arboretum, cottage d PRESERVED_SPECIMEN s. s. ishikawa 485 Oahu US 2/13/1979
27 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don H.L. Lyon Arboretum, Cottage D PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ishikawa, S. S. 485 Oahu US 2/13/1979
28 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don halelea dist, limahuli valley, national tropical botanical garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN t. w. flynn 3767 Kauai US 2/15/1990
29 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Halelea Dist.; Limahuli Valley, NTBG PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 3767 Kauai BISH 2/15/1990
30 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu: Manoa Valley; Manoa Arboretum PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Caum, E.L. s.n. Oahu BISH 2/3/1930
31 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don East Maui, Keanae Arboretum Sparingly naturalized in shady understory of surrounding forest. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hobdy, R.W. 2490 Maui BISH 1/23/1986
32 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu: Manoa Valley; H.S.Lyon Arboretum; Cottage D PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ishikawa, S. 485 Oahu BISH 2/13/1979
33 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu: Kalia Road.; J. A. Wilder's place PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wilder, G.P. s.n. Oahu BISH 2/13/1934
34 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu: Hall Street PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Luke, K. 68 Oahu BISH 12/30/1960
35 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu: Kapalama; Bishop Museum courtyard PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 9709 Oahu BISH 12/17/1994
36 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Laie; Church College of Hawaii Common in shady areas. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Higuchi, G.T. 34 Oahu BISH 5/7/1971
37 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu: Garden of collector PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cox, Mrs.I. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/28/1934
38 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Honolulu: Nuuanu area, 2616 Pali Hwy Shady moist location. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 1638 Oahu BISH 11/16/1985
39 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Wailau Valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H80502 Molokai BISH 8/12/2005
40 Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) G.Don Koolaupoko distr., Waimanalo, Kakaina St. Shaded understory along stream, growing on banks in deep shade on moist red clay soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Staples, G. 1223 Oahu BISH 2/17/2005
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