Alocasia cucullata

(Louriero) G. Don

Chinese taro

Araceae Edible: Corms, Tubers, Leaves, Roots, Vegetable Potential hazards — see below 2,029 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Alocasia cucullata is a species of flowering plant in the arum family, Araceae. It is known by the common names Chinese taro, Chinese ape, Buddha's hand, and hooded dwarf elephant ear. It is kept as an ornamental plant. The native range of the species is unclear, as it is known only from cultivation and from specimens growing around human habitation and in disturbed areas. It is grown in many parts of Asia, such as China, India, Sri Lanka, and Burma.

Description

A herb. It is a plant with a tuber and it keeps growing from year to year. It can grow for only one year. It grows to 1.5 m high. The stem can be 50 cm long and 5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 1 m long. The leaf stalk joins the leaf blade at the edge. The leaf is glossy and oval to heart shaped. It only has short lobes at the base. It is green. The leaf blade is 40 cm long by 28 cm wide. It forms suckers freely. The flowers have a spathe 9-15 cm long.

Edible Uses

The corms and tubers are eaten as a cooked vegetable, and young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The corms are eaten as a cooked vegetable. The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plants are used externally for treatment of detoxification of viper bites, abscesses, rheumatism and arthritis.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals. This substance is toxic fresh and, if eaten, makes the mouth, tongue and throat feel as if hundreds of small needles are digging in to them. However, calcium oxalate is easily broken down either by thoroughly cooking the plant or by fully drying it and, in either of these states, it is safe to eat the plant. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands in open, wet locations. It is one of the more cold hardy Alocasias. Cairns Botanical Garden. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Central America, China, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Fiji, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Rotuma, SE Asia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Windward Is.,

Cultivation

It is grown by division of the clump or from offsets. It can also be grown from seed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germinates best at 24c. Division of the rootstock as the plant is coming into growth.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 60-70 Alocasia species.

Synonyms

Alocasia cucullata (Lour.) SchottAlocasia rugosa SchottArum cucullatum Lour.Caladium cucullatum (Lour.) Pers.Colocasia cucullata Schott, Colocasia rugosa KunthFanzhuyuia. Z. Y. Zhu and species Fanzhuyuia omeiensis Z. Y. Zhu.

Also Known As

Alokasia nampu hijau, 'Apea, Bira, Boga kachu, Boga kochu, Hpa-gamon, Jian wei cao, Nang-kwak, Panchamukhi kochu, Rasy, Singjupal, Singju-paan, Sinjupaal, Tha-khashiba hagrani, Wan-nokkhum, Wan-thorahot

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Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 106

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