Taxon:  Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don



Summary
Genus:
Alocasia
Family:
Araceae
Subfamily:
Aroideae
Tribe:
Colocasieae
Nomen number:
2492
Place of publication:
R. Sweet, Hort. brit. ed. 3:631.  1839 "macrorhizon" (H. W. Schott, Melet. 18.  1832, nom. inval. "macrorhiza")
Comment:
Schott did not validly publish this in 1832 because the genus Alocasia was first published in a suppressed work (1790) and was not validly published until 1837 (Shenzhen ICN Art. 35.1)
Verified:
05/26/2023 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
23 (3  active, 1  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Backer, C. A. & R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Jr. 1963-1968. Flora of Java.
  5. Balick, M. J. et al. 2000. Checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, with common names and uses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 85
  6. Boggan, J. et al. 1997. Checklist of the plants of the Guianas, ed. 2
  7. Bunting, G. S. & D. H. Nicolson. 1963. The Alocasia plumbea confusion. Baileya 11:143-146.
  8. Burger, W. C., ed. 1971-. Flora costaricensis.
  9. Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1987. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. 6:58.
  10. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1193.
  11. Everest, S. L. 1981. Poisonous plants of Australia. Note: poisonous
  12. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  13. Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
  14. Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
  15. Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
  16. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  17. Hay, A. et al. 1995. Checklist & botanical bibliography of the aroids of Malesia, Australia, and the tropical western Pacific. Blumea suppl. 8
  18. Hay, A. 1998. The genus Alocasia (Araceae-Colocasieae) in west Malesia and Sulawesi. Gard. Bull. Singapore 50:221-334.
  19. Hay, A. 1999. The genus Alocasia (Araceae-Colocasieae) in th Philippines. Gard. Bull. Singapore 51:1-41.
  20. Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
  21. Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
  22. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  23. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  24. Liogier, H. A. & L. F. Martorell. 2000. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: a systematic synopsis, ed. 2.
  25. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  26. Nauheimer, L. et al. 2012. Giant taro and its relatives: a phylogeny of the large genus Alocasia (Araceae) sheds light on Miocene floristic exchange in the Malesian region. Molec. Phylogenet. Evol. 63:43-51.
  27. Nicolson, D. H. 1986. Species epithets and gender information. Taxon 35:326. Note: concerning spelling of specific epithet
  28. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  29. Quero Garcia, J. et al. 2008. Morphological variation and reproductive characteristics of wild giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos, Araceae) populations in Vanuatu. New Zealand J. Bot. 45:189-203.
  30. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  31. Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
  32. Wagner, W. L. et al. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i
  33. Walker, E. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu Islands.
  34. Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishape  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Englishcunjevoi  1Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Englishgiant alocasia  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Englishgiant taro  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Englishpai  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Frenchalocasie  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanAlokasie  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Germanriesenblättriges Pfeilblatt  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1193.
Indiamankachu  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguese (Brazil)inhame-açú  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)orelha-de-elefante-gigante  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)taiá-Rio-Branco  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)taioba  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Spanishmalanga  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishalokasia  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesiaKalimantan Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaMalaysia  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaPhilippines  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
1NativeAsia-TropicalPapuasiaSolomon Islands  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaQueensland Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
2Cultivated    widely cult.Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
3Adventive    adventive elsewhereGovaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentSri Lanka  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesiaJawa Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesiaLesser Sunda Islands Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesiaSulawesi Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesiaSumatera Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSoutheastern U.S.A.United StatesFlorida Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
4NaturalizedPacificNorth-Central PacificUnited StatesHawaiiKaua‘i , O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, & MauiWagner, W. L. et al. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i
4NaturalizedPacificNorthwestern PacificMarshall Islands  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedPacificSouth-Central PacificFrench PolynesiaSociety Islands Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificFiji  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificNew Caledonia  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificSamoa  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificTonga  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificVanuatu  Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanUnited StatesPuerto Rico Liogier, H. A. & L. F. Martorell. 2000. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: a systematic synopsis, ed. 2.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaCosta Rica  Burger, W. C., ed. 1971-. Flora costaricensis.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaNicaragua  Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaSuriname  Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaPeru  Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
Native
Asia-Tropical
  • PAPUASIA: Solomon Islands
  • MALESIA: Indonesia [Kalimantan], Malaysia, Philippines
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland]
Cultivated (widely cult.)
Adventive (adventive elsewhere)
Naturalized
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka
  • MALESIA: Indonesia [Jawa, Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, Sumatera]
Northern America
  • SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida]
Pacific
  • NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii (Kaua‘i , O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, & Maui)]
  • NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Marshall Islands
  • SOUTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: French Polynesia [Society Islands]
  • SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: United States [Puerto Rico]
  • CENTRAL AMERICA: Costa Rica, Nicaragua
  • NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Suriname
  • WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Peru

Reference(s)
  1. Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
  2. Burger, W. C., ed. 1971-. Flora costaricensis.
  3. Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
  4. Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae).
  5. Liogier, H. A. & L. F. Martorell. 2000. Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands: a systematic synopsis, ed. 2.
  6. Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
  7. Wagner, W. L. et al. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i
  8. Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1193.
Human foodstarch Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Human foodvegetableleaves and stem cookedDassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1987. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. 6:58.
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Everest, S. L. 1981. Poisonous plants of Australia. Note: poisonous
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=2492. Accessed 15 April 2026.