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Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don

Giant taro

Native records: 8 botanical areas

Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Maluku, 5 more areas

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Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

See sources

Photograph of Alocasia macrorrhizos

A massive aroid herb reaching 2–4 m tall, native to humid tropical forests of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Cultivated since prehistoric times as a subsistence crop and widely grown as an ornamental.

Description

A large evergreen herbaceous perennial forming thick erect stems in mature plants and reaching 4 m or more in height. Leaves are several together, held erect, with petioles to 130 cm long. Leaf blades are sagittate, bluntly triangular in outline, up to 120 × 50 cm. Inflorescences occur in pairs among leaf bases; the spathe is 13–35 cm long, constricted about 1/6 from base, pale yellow, cowl-like at anthesis then reflexed. Fruit is a few-seeded red berry. Rhizomes contain stinging calcium oxalate crystals and require prolonged preparation before consumption.

Habitat

IndoMalesia to Oceania; not clear where, if anywhere, this species occurs truly wild. Evidently distributed widely in tropical Asia in prehistoric times as a subsistence crop and now pantropical by introduction as an ornamental. Ditches and wet areas of farmlands and wastelands, never away from human disturbance.

Distribution areas

  • American Samoa

    • SamoaIntroduced
    • Tokelau-ManihikiIntroduced

  • Anguilla

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Australia

    • QueenslandNative

  • Bangladesh

    • BangladeshIntroduced

  • Barbados

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Bhutan

    • East HimalayaIntroduced

  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Brazil

    • Brazil NortheastIntroduced

  • British Indian Ocean Territory

    • Chagos ArchipelagoIntroduced

  • Brunei Darussalam

    • BorneoNative

  • Cambodia

    • CambodiaIntroduced

  • China

    • China South-CentralIntroduced
    • China SoutheastIntroduced
    • HainanIntroduced
    • TibetIntroduced

  • Comoros

    • ComorosIntroduced

  • Cook Islands

    • Cook Is.Introduced
    • Tokelau-ManihikiIntroduced

  • Costa Rica

    • Costa RicaIntroduced

  • Cuba

    • CubaIntroduced

  • Dominica

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Dominican Republic

    • Dominican RepublicIntroduced

  • Ecuador

    • GalápagosIntroduced

  • Equatorial Guinea

    • Gulf of Guinea Is.Introduced

  • Fiji

    • FijiIntroduced

  • French Polynesia

    • MarquesasIntroduced
    • Society Is.Introduced
    • TuamotuIntroduced
    • Tubuai Is.Introduced

  • Grenada

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Guadeloupe

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Guam

    • MarianasIntroduced

  • Guinea

    • GuineaIntroduced

  • Haiti

    • HaitiIntroduced

  • Honduras

    • HondurasIntroduced

  • Hong Kong

    • China SoutheastIntroduced

  • India

    • Andaman Is.Introduced
    • AssamIntroduced
    • East HimalayaIntroduced
    • IndiaIntroduced

  • Indonesia

    • BorneoNative
    • JawaIntroduced
    • Lesser Sunda Is.Introduced
    • MalukuNative
    • New GuineaNative
    • SulawesiNative
    • SumateraIntroduced

  • Jamaica

    • JamaicaIntroduced

  • Kiribati

    • Gilbert Is.Introduced

  • Lao People's Democratic Republic

    • LaosIntroduced

  • Macao

    • China SoutheastIntroduced

  • Malaysia

    • BorneoNative
    • MalayaIntroduced

  • Maldives

    • MaldivesIntroduced

  • Marshall Islands

    • Marshall Is.Introduced

  • Martinique

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Mayotte

    • ComorosIntroduced

  • Micronesia, Federated States of

    • Caroline Is.Introduced

  • Montserrat

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Myanmar

    • Andaman Is.Introduced

  • New Caledonia

    • New CaledoniaIntroduced

  • Nicaragua

    • NicaraguaIntroduced

  • Niue

    • NiueIntroduced

  • Northern Mariana Islands

    • MarianasIntroduced

  • Palau

    • Caroline Is.Introduced

  • Papua New Guinea

    • Bismarck ArchipelagoNative
    • New GuineaNative
    • Solomon Is.Native

  • Paraguay

    • ParaguayIntroduced

  • Philippines

    • PhilippinesNative

  • Portugal

    • PortugalIntroduced

  • Puerto Rico

    • HaitiIntroduced
    • Puerto RicoIntroduced

  • Saint Barthélemy

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

    • St.HelenaIntroduced

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Lucia

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Saint Martin (French part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Samoa

    • SamoaIntroduced

  • Sao Tome and Principe

    • Gulf of Guinea Is.Introduced

  • Seychelles

    • SeychellesIntroduced

  • Singapore

    • MalayaIntroduced

  • Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Solomon Islands

    • Solomon Is.Native

  • South Sudan

    • SudanIntroduced

  • Sri Lanka

    • Sri LankaIntroduced

  • Sudan

    • SudanIntroduced

  • Taiwan, Province of China

    • China SoutheastIntroduced
    • TaiwanIntroduced

  • Thailand

    • ThailandIntroduced

  • Timor-Leste

    • Lesser Sunda Is.Introduced

  • Tokelau

    • Tokelau-ManihikiIntroduced

  • Tonga

    • TongaIntroduced

  • Trinidad and Tobago

    • Trinidad-TobagoIntroduced

  • United States Minor Outlying Islands

    • HawaiiIntroduced

  • United States of America

    • ArkansasIntroduced
    • HawaiiIntroduced

  • Vanuatu

    • VanuatuIntroduced

  • Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced
    • VenezuelaIntroduced
    • Venezuelan AntillesIntroduced

  • Viet Nam

    • VietnamIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (British)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Af Tropical, rainforest
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • BWh Arid, desert, hot
  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • Cfb Temperate, no dry season, warm summer

The same climate occurs in 187 areas worldwide, 127 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Recorded medicinal uses

The cited source records medicinal use of this plant. It is not an assessment of efficacy or safety.

  • Alocasia macrorrhizos is recorded as used medicinally.

    Source location: p.15, right column, line 16

    World Checklist of Useful Plant Species · Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) · CC BY 4.0 · source version: wcups-2020-62602715

    Open source

Other names

Giant taro、Elephant ear taro、Giant alocasia、Upright elephant ears

Family
Araceae
Genus
Alocasia

Other species in Alocasia

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Anguilla · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    American Samoa · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Antigua and Barbuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Australia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bangladesh · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Barthélemy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Brazil · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Barbados · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Brunei Darussalam · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bhutan · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    China · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cook Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Comoros · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Costa Rica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cuba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominican Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Ecuador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Fiji · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Micronesia, Federated States of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guinea · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guadeloupe · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Equatorial Guinea · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Grenada · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guam · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Hong Kong · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Honduras · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Haiti · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Indonesia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    India · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    British Indian Ocean Territory · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Jamaica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cambodia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Kiribati · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Kitts and Nevis · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Lao People's Democratic Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Lucia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sri Lanka · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Macao · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Martin (French part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Maldives · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Marshall Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Myanmar · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Northern Mariana Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Montserrat · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Martinique · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Malaysia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mayotte · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    New Caledonia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Nicaragua · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Niue · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Philippines · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Palau · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Papua New Guinea · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Puerto Rico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Portugal · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Paraguay · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    French Polynesia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sudan · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Singapore · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Solomon Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    South Sudan · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sao Tome and Principe · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sint Maarten (Dutch part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Seychelles · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Thailand · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Tokelau · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Timor-Leste · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Tonga · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Trinidad and Tobago · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Taiwan, Province of China · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States Minor Outlying Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States of America · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (British) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (U.S.) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Viet Nam · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Vanuatu · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Samoa · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

Image information