Alocasia

The large, cordate or sagittate leaves grow to a length of {{cvt|20|to|90|cm|in|0|abbr=in}} on long petioles. Their araceous flowers grow at the end of a short stalk, but are not conspicuous; often hidden behind the leaf petioles.

The corms of some species can be processed to make them edible, however, the raw plants contain raphid or raphide crystals of calcium oxalate along with other irritants (possibly including proteases){{cite journal |author1=Bradbury, J. Howard |author2=Nixon, Roger W. |year=1998 |title=The acridity of raphides from the edible aroids |journal=Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture |volume=76 |issue=4 |pages=608–616 |doi=10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199804)76:4<608::AID-JSFA996>3.0.CO;2-2|doi-access=free |bibcode=1998JSFA...76..608B }} that can numb and swell the tongue and pharynx. This can cause difficulty breathing and sharp pain in the throat. Lower parts of the plant contain the highest concentrations of the poison.

Prolonged boiling before serving or processing may reduce risk of adverse reactions. Additionally, acidic fruit such as tamarind may dissolve the raphides altogether. It's important to note, however, that this genus varies in toxicity, and can still be dangerous to ingest, even after taking precautions.

The following are the accepted species of Alocasia along with their common names (where available) and distribution ranges:

: The following list is incomplete.

The following are hybrid species in the genus Alocasia:

• A. × mortfontanensis André = A. longiloba × A. sanderianaAlocasia ×mortfontanensis, World Checklist of Selected Plant Families [https://wcsp.science.kew.org/namedetail.do?name_id=6792] (syn. A. × amazonicaAlocasia ×amazonica hort., nom. inval. , U.S. National Plant Germplasm System [https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?312551])

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Alocasia are tropical plants that are increasingly becoming popular as houseplants.[http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Alocasia%20micholitziana%20%20pc.html Exotic Rainforest rare tropical plants] The hybrid A. × amazonica has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web |title=RHS Plant Selector - Alocasia × amazonica |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/96161/Alocasia-x-amazonica/Details |access-date=14 March 2020}} They are typically grown as pot plants, but a better way is to grow the plants permanently in the controlled conditions of a greenhouse. They can tolerate dim light and cannot withstand direct sunlight. They should be cared for as any other tropical plant with weekly cleaning of the leaves, frequent fertilization and medium to high humidity.{{cite book |last1=Chiusoli |first1=Alessandro |last2=Boriani |first2=Luisa Maria |title=Simon & Schuster's guide to houseplants |date=1986 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |location=New York |isbn=0671631314 |chapter=Alocasia metallica}}

They rarely survive cold winters or the dryness of artificial heating, but an attempt to slowly acclimatize plants from the summer garden to the house can help.[http://natureassassin.blogspot.com/2009/09/overwintering-your-alocasia.html Nature Assassin: Overwintering your Alocasia] Once inside, the watering period must be reduced and the plants should be protected from spider mites or red spider attack.

• Colocasia
• Philodendron

{{Commons}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/elephant-ear/growing-elephant-ear-plants.htm Tips For Growing Elephant Ear Plants]
• [https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/how-to/how-to-care-for-indoor-elephant-ear-plants How to Care for Indoor Elephant Ear Plants]
• [https://thegardenplants.com/caring/propagate/alocasia-elephants-ear/ Propagating Alocasia or elephants ear]

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Category:Araceae genera

Category:Taxa named by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott