What is the difference between Alocasia macrorrhizos (dumb cane) and Alocasia cucullata (Chinese taro)?
The difference between Alocasia macrorrhizos and Alocasia cucullata lies mainly in leaf shape, plant form, growth habits and distribution areas. Alocasia macrorrhizos has ovate-hastate leaves with no splitting and a broad plant form, and can adapt to cold, shaded environments, while Alocasia cucullata has palmately shaped leaves, an upright plant form, and slightly higher requirements for its environment.
How to tell Alocasia macrorrhizos and Alocasia cucullata apart
1. Leaf shape
Alocasia macrorrhizos and Alocasia cucullata differ greatly in form. Alocasia macrorrhizos has pointed ovate-hastate leaves that are relatively broad and thick, and the plant is larger, while Alocasia cucullata has palmately split leaves that are smaller, close to an oval shape, and, like Alocasia macrorrhizos, evergreen all year round.
2. Plant form
Alocasia macrorrhizos and Alocasia cucullata also differ in plant appearance. Because the main stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos is relatively thick and its leaves are broad, it usually has only 4-5 leaves even when it grows to a height of 3-5 m, but Alocasia cucullata has smaller leaves and slender branches, and an upright plant often has several dozen leaves.
3. Growth habits
The optimal growing temperature for Alocasia cucullata is between 20-30°C, and it can tolerate a minimum temperature of only 10-15°C, while Alocasia macrorrhizos can tolerate temperatures of around 8°C. Alocasia cucullata also needs very fertile soil and a comfortable environment, while Alocasia macrorrhizos only needs a relatively cold, shaded, ventilated environment.
4. Distribution areas
Alocasia cucullata is mainly produced in Guangzhou, and is widely distributed in Bangladesh and Thailand, where it is popular in Southeast Asian countries, while Alocasia cucullata is widely distributed within China, being found throughout Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan and other places, and is also partly cultivated in the Guangxi region, so Alocasia macrorrhizos is more adaptable than Alocasia cucullata.