What is the difference between Alocasia cucullata and Alocasia macrorrhizos (giant taro)

Alocasia cucullata and Alocasia macrorrhizos are both evergreen plants, very suitable for growing as indoor foliage pot plants. Because these two plants look much the same, quite a few people mistakenly think they are the same plant. In fact, Alocasia cucullata and Alocasia macrorrhizos are not the same plant; the two often differ fundamentally, and as long as we observe and compare them carefully, we can easily tell them apart. So what are the differences between Alocasia cucullata and Alocasia macrorrhizos?

Although Alocasia cucullata and Alocasia macrorrhizos are not the same plant, both belong to the genus Alocasia in the family Araceae, being different varieties of the same family and genus. The most obvious difference between them is that Alocasia cucullata usually has a rather short, small plant form, with a thick, short rhizome, and its fleshy stem can reach 1 m; whereas the above-ground stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos usually grows very tall and thick, some even reaching 2-3 m, and the height of the whole plant can even reach 5 m.

Besides the difference in rhizome, the flowering periods of Alocasia cucullata and Alocasia macrorrhizos are also not the same. Alocasia cucullata usually flowers in May, while Alocasia macrorrhizos can flower almost all year round, though its shade tolerance is usually somewhat poorer than that of Alocasia cucullata. If it is too shady, Alocasia macrorrhizos tends not to flower. And the conditions needed for Alocasia macrorrhizos to flower are usually somewhat stricter than those for Alocasia cucullata.

Although the leaves of Alocasia cucullata and Alocasia macrorrhizos stay green all year round and their shapes are somewhat similar, a careful look also allows them to be told apart. The leaves of Alocasia cucullata are usually a bit smaller and finer than those of Alocasia macrorrhizos, with a more pointed leaf tip, and the leaf color is mostly dark green; the leaves of Alocasia macrorrhizos look much broader and larger, and the leaf color is mostly tender green, very eye-catching. Put the pot plants of the two side by side for comparison, and the difference is still very obvious.

Of course, besides the obvious features in the above aspects that can tell the two apart, we can also distinguish them by many other aspects, for example their growth habits are also not the same, and in some aspects the difference is even quite large. Of course, as long as we pay more attention in daily life, generally we can easily tell them apart by the plant form, leaf shape, flowering and so on. And the most direct method is to put pot plants of the two growing normally side by side and make a comparison.