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Alocasia macrorrhizos

(L.) G.Don (1839)

This name is accepted

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

‘ape [ape], elephant ear, elephant's ear plant, elephant's-ear plant, giant taro, metallic taro

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Large herbs up to 5 m tall.

Stems: Stems erect, up to 1 m long and 20 cm in diameter.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades ovate–triangular, anterior lobe 25–120 cm long, 20–90 cm wide, posterior lobes 12–40 cm long, ¼–½ as long as anterior lobe. Margins entire to sinuous. Primary lateral veins 4–7 per side. Petioles 75–130 cm long, cataphylls persistent, 25–95 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences 2 to several together, subtended by bracts, peduncles 20–45 cm long; spathe whitish to yellowish, oblong, 13–35 cm long, 4–6 cm wide, constricted ca. 4 cm from base to form a tube up to 2 cm in diameter upper part deciduous or withering; spadix nearly as long as spathe, 11–32 cm long, pistillate portion 1–2.5 cm long, sterile staminate portion 0.5–2 cm long, fertile staminate portion 2–7 cm long, terminal appendage 7.5–21cm long. Flowers unisexual, naked. Calyx absent. Corolla (petals) absent. Staminate flowers comprising truncate synandria of 3–8 stamens. Ovary superior (pistillate flowers), 1-celled or sometimes 3–4-celled at apex; stigmas weakly 3-lobed; ovules few, basal.

Fruit: Berries scarlet; ovoid; 8–10 mm long; 5–8 mm in diameter. Seeds rather large; seed coat thickish; endosperm copious.

Ploidy: 2n = 26; 28; 42

Habitat: Cultivated and now naturalized in low elevation mesic valleys; primarily along streams or in other wet sites.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Corm used as a famine food (Abbott 1992:43).

  • The meat of the corm used to treat burns and broken skin. A liquid is made from the peeled stem that is used as a purgative for stomachaches. ‘Ape leaves used as a wrap to induce sweating for fever reduction (Abbott 1992:98). Specifically for ‘ape ‘ele‘ele, a treatment for ‘ako o ka puka ‘okole i ka mane‘o i ka naio (from pinworms), the flesh is combined with leaves of the ‘uhaloa (Waltheria indica), and green kukui nut flesh (Aleurites moluccana), and used as an ointment (Chun 1994:46).

CULTURE

  • ‘Ai no i ka ‘ape he mane‘o no ko ka nuku. He who eats the ‘ape is bound to have his mouth itch. He who indulges in some thing harmful will surely reap the result.

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

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

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1356 (K, O, Mo, M); Staples & Woolliams 1997:15 (KEY); Imada et al. 2000:10 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:598 (KEY), 599 (DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu; Waikane; Waiahole Ditch Trail In bed of stream. Preserved_Specimen Trunk 1.5 m tall; spathe pale cream colored, male part white furrowed between the flwrs; sterile tip yellow; female part concealed. St.John, H. 25299 Oahu BISH 1954-10-03
2 Alocasia macrorrhizos Hamakua District, Waipio Valley, ca. 2 miles into the valley Herb 4 ft. tall growing alongside the dirt road leading into the back of the valley in disturbed secondary forest; common. Leaves dark green, shiny, young leaves held upright. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9931 Hawaii BISH 1999-06-19
3 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu; Capitol grounds In shaded mixed border. Preserved_Specimen lighter green than blade, especially near top, covered with faint maroon mottlings, not milky; blade cordate, dark green shining above, below dark green but midrib & laterall veins very light green; larger plants bear larger lvs than this specimen. Lvs not peltate, but juv. lvs of what seems the same species, very slightly peltate; edges wavy, curled under; plant 6' high; Petiole 41 long (19 above groove, 22 below), smooth, trunk 6 high, 3 diam. Some plants 15' high. Neal, M.C. 1225 Oahu BISH 1941-09-25
4 Alocasia macrorrhizos Koloa District. National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai Valley, McBryde Garden, Big Valley, near Stillwater Dam, on west bank of Lawai Stream. Cultivated in stream. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb 2 m, stem solitary, 1 m tall, leaves 6-7, petioles 1 m, blade erect, 75 x 60 cm, dark shiny green above, matte beneath. Infl. axillary in groups of 3-4, spathe pale green, spadix cream color w 2 orange bands. Berries pale yellow orange, 3-4 mm diam, seed pale brown, ovoid, 2 mm long. Lorence, D.H. 10519 Kauai BISH 2015-07-09
5 Alocasia macrorrhizos Koloa District. National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai Valley, McBryde Garden, Big Valley, near Stillwater Dam, on west bank of Lawai Stream. Cultivated in stream. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb 2 m, stem solitary, 1 m tall, leaves 6-7, petioles 1 m, blade erect, 75 x 60 cm, dark shiny green above, matte beneath. Infl. axillary in groups of 3-4, spathe pale green, spadix cream color w 2 orange bands. Berries pale yellow orange, 3-4 mm diam, seed pale brown, ovoid, 2 mm long. Lorence, D.H. 10519 Kauai BISH 2015-07-09
6 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Capitol grounds In shaded mixed border. Preserved_Specimen Petiole 33 inches long (11 inches above groove, 22 inches below), smooth, lighter green than blade, especially near top, covered with faint maroon mottlings, not milky; blade cordate, dark green shining above, below dark green but midrib & lateral veins very light green; larger plants bear larger lvs than this specimen. Lvs not peltate, but juv. lvs of what seems the same species. very slightly peltate; edges wavy, curled under; plant 6' high; Petiole 33 long (11 above groove, 22 below), smooth, trunk 6 high, 3 diam. Some plants 15' high. Neal, M.C. 1225 Oahu BISH 1941-09-25
7 Alocasia macrorrhizos Punalau Forest Reserve Wet shaded roadside. Preserved_Specimen Large plant w/decumbent to erect stem 7-8' high; flowers whitish. Herbst, D.R. 4095 Maui BISH 1974-08-28
8 Alocasia macrorrhizos Koolau Mts.; Kipapa Gulch, S ridge In stream bed. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1032 Oahu BISH 1933-05-14
9 Alocasia macrorrhizos Mapulehu Valley Growing wild In rich soil near stream. Preserved_Specimen Spathe cream colored. Infl. collected Jul 23; leaf Jul 31. Degener, O. 8936 Molokai BISH 1928-07-23
10 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Downtown; Merchant St.; Alexander & Baldwin, near bdg Preserved_Specimen Spathe & spadix light gold, female part light green; flr has faint sickish perfume; leaf erect, not bending at top of petiole, flat, dark shining green; leaf sap not milky. Neal, M.C. 1224 Oahu BISH 1941-04-09
11 Alocasia macrorrhizos Koloa District. National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai Valley, McBryde Garden, Big Valley, near Stillwater Dam, on west bank of Lawai Stream. Cultivated in stream. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb 2 m, stem solitary, 1 m tall, leaves 6-7, petioles 1 m, blade erect, 75 x 60 cm, dark shiny green above, matte beneath. Infl. axillary in groups of 3-4, spathe pale green, spadix cream color w 2 orange bands. Berries pale yellow orange, 3-4 mm diam, seed pale brown, ovoid, 2 mm long. Lorence, D.H. 10519 Kauai BISH 2015-07-09
12 Alocasia macrorrhizos Morgan Toledo Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Growing at back of property along road, in wet to well-drained, rocky condtions. Preserved_Specimen Upright, herbaceous taro-like plant, ca. 1 m tall. Crago, L.M. 2005096 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
13 Alocasia macrorrhizos Koloa Dist.; Lawai Valley, Allerton Gardens, Lawai Kai, Jungle Gardens area near coast Near coast. Preserved_Specimen Terrestrial herb 1-1.3 m tall, stem short, erect; petiole dark purple-black; blades dark green above, dark purple-black beneath; peduncle purplish; stath tube green w/purple bands, limb cream w/puple flush; spadix cream. Lorence, D.H. 7459 Kauai BISH 1994-05-16
14 Alocasia macrorrhizos Kualoa in gulch Preserved_Specimen herb, 2 m tall. Cream-white, fragrant. Brown, F.B.H. 1300 Oahu BISH 1924-07-26
15 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Palolo Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1956 Oahu BISH 1914-10-22
16 Alocasia macrorrhizos Halawa In abandoned taro patches. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12688 Molokai BISH 1932-12-27
17 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Larry Quate residence Preserved_Specimen Quate, L. Oahu BISH 1964-09-10
18 Alocasia macrorrhizos Wailau Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 549 Molokai BISH 1912-09-01
19 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Palolo Valley; right fork Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 507 Oahu BISH 1920-08-01
20 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Palolo Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1956 Oahu BISH 1914-10-22
21 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Larry Quate residence Preserved_Specimen Quate, L. Oahu BISH 1964-09-10
22 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Niu Valley; right fork Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 463 Oahu BISH 1920-06-29
23 Alocasia macrorrhizos Koloa Dist.; Lawai Valley, Allerton Gardens, Lawai Kai, Jungle Gardens area near coast Preserved_Specimen Terrestrial herb 1-1.3 m tall, stem short, erect; petiole dark purple-black; blades dark green above, dark purple-black beneath; peduncle purplish; stath tube green w/purple bands, limb cream w/puple flush; spadix cream. Lorence, D.H. 7460 Kauai BISH 1994-05-16
24 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu: Larry Quate residence Preserved_Specimen Quate, L. Oahu BISH 1964-09-10
25 Alocasia macrorrhizos Koloa District. National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai Valley, McBryde Garden, Big Valley area, near Stillwater Dam, on west bank of Lawai Stream. Cultivated in stream. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb 2m, stem solitary, 1 m tall, leaves 6-7, petioles 1 m, blade erect, 75 x 60 cm, dark shiny green above, matte beneath. Infl. axillary in groups of 3-4 spathe pale green, spadix cream color w 2 orange bands. Berries pale yellow orange, 3-4 mm diam, seed pale brown, ovoid, 2 mm long. Lorence, D.H. 10519 Kauai BISH 2015-07-09
26 Alocasia macrorrhizos Laie: BYU campus Silty loam. Preserved_Specimen Shrub to 6' tall; large 4' heart-shaped lvs; 10 flower has very rank odor. Afualo, D. 104 Oahu BISH 1975-03-21
27 Alocasia macrorrhizos Waipahu Cultural Gardens, 94-695 Waipahu Street In partial shade. Preserved_Specimen Plant with an elongate erect corm 20 cm long with a few small offshoots. Petioles & leaf undersides pigmented with a reddish purple. Spathe cream with some reddish purple & apple green. Spadix white. Lau, J. 2119 Oahu BISH 1986-03-10
28 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu; Waikane; Waiahole Ditch Trail In bed of stream. Preserved_Specimen Trunk 1.5 m tall; spathe pale cream colored, male part white furrowed between the flwrs; sterile tip yellow; female part concealed. St.John, H. 25299 Oahu BISH 1954-10-03
29 Alocasia macrorrhizos Morgan Toledo Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Growing at back of property along road, in wet to well-drained, rocky condtions. Preserved_Specimen Upright, herbaceous taro-like plant, ca. 1 m tall. Crago, L.M. 2005096 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
30 Alocasia macrorrhizos Honolulu; Waikane; Waiahole Ditch Trail In bed of stream. Preserved_Specimen Trunk 1.5 m tall; spathe pale cream colored, male part white furrowed between the flwrs; sterile tip yellow; female part concealed. St.John, H. 25299 Oahu BISH 1954-10-03
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