Alocasia longiloba is a species of flowering plant in the family Araceae.[1] It is the namesake of a species complex.[2] The complex has a widespread distribution; Guangdong, Hainan, and southern Yunnan in China, mainland Southeast Asia, and western and central Malesia.[1]

Alocasia longiloba
Foliage
Botanical illustration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Genus: Alocasia
Species:
A. longiloba
Binomial name
Alocasia longiloba
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Alocasia amabilis W.Bull
    • Alocasia argyrea Mast.
    • Alocasia cochinchensis Pierre ex Engl. & K.Krause
    • Alocasia curtisii N.E.Br.
    • Alocasia cuspidata Engl.
    • Alocasia denudata Engl.
    • Alocasia eminens N.E.Br.
    • Alocasia gibba André
    • Alocasia gigantea Jacob-Makoy
    • Alocasia grandis Clemenc.
    • Alocasia intermedia H.Laurentius
    • Alocasia korthalsii Schott
    • Alocasia leoniae Engl. & K.Krause
    • Alocasia longifolia Engl. & K.Krause
    • Alocasia lowii Hook.f.
    • Alocasia lucianii Pucci ex Rodigas
    • Alocasia pucciana André
    • Alocasia putzeysii N.E.Br.
    • Alocasia singaporensis Linden
    • Alocasia spectabilis Engl. & K.Krause
    • Alocasia thibantiana Mast.
    • Alocasia veitchii (Lindl.) Schott
    • Alocasia watsoniana Sander
    • Caladium lowii H.Low ex J.Dix
    • Caladium veitchii Lindl.

In the houseplant trade, many of the former species that were subsumed into Alocasia longiloba are now considered types or varieties, these include 'argyrea', 'korthalsii', 'lowii', and 'watsoniana'.[3] The placement and validity of such varieties, and of any potential hybrids and cultivars within the complex is unclear, including 'Jackrabbit' and 'Thibautians'.[3][4] Similarly, a cross of Alocasia lowii with the kris plant Alocasia sanderiana produced Alocasia × mortfontanensis, which may or may not be the same as the well-known hybrid Alocasia × amazonica, the African mask, formed by crossing A. sanderiana and Alocasia watsoniana, with the only certain parent in either cross being A. sanderiana.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Alocasia longiloba Miq". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  2. ^ Nauheimer, Lars; Boyce, Peter C.; Renner, Susanne S. (2012). "Giant taro and its relatives: A phylogeny of the large genus Alocasia (Araceae) sheds light on Miocene floristic exchange in the Malesian region". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 63 (1): 43–51. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.12.011. PMID 22209857.
  3. ^ a b "Alocasia longiloba Miq". aroid.org. International Aroid Society. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Alocasia longiloba 'Thibautians' elephant's ear plant 'Thibautians'". The Royal Horticultural Society. 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022. Name status; Unresolved
  5. ^ "Alocasia × mortfontanensis André". nparks.gov.sg. Flora Fauna Web. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.