Is the Araceae Alocasia macrorrhizos poisonous? Cultivation methods, precautions, and how it differs from Alocasia odora

Alocasia macrorrhizos, also called tiger taro, wild taro, Guangdong wolf's bane, wild taro, and single-foot lotus, is a plant of the Araceae family, often used for potted ornamentation and widely used in indoor conference halls, living rooms, corridors and other spaces. So is Alocasia macrorrhizos poisonous? What are the cultivation methods and precautions? How does it differ from Alocasia odora?

Morphological characteristics

An evergreen perennial large herb, up to 3 m tall. The stem is thick and robust, tea-brown, with abundant mucilage inside. The leaves are huge, 30-90 cm long, arrow-shaped, with the main and lateral veins raised on the underside of the leaf; the leaf is peltate, the petiole can reach 1 m long, and the spathe is pale green to milky white, green in the lower part, 10-20 cm long.

An upright large herb, with a firm stem, 3-6 cm thick, cylindrical, blackish-brown, with ring-shaped leaf scars, usually sending out many shortened shoot buds from the base.

Is Alocasia macrorrhizos poisonous?

Without any doubt, let me tell you that Alocasia macrorrhizos is poisonous, mainly because the sap in the stem and leaves is toxic. Accidental ingestion can cause numbness and swelling of the tongue and central nervous system poisoning. External skin contact can cause itching, numbness and a rash. Although Alocasia macrorrhizos is poisonous, it still plays a big role in purifying the air.

Medicinal value

The whole plant is used as medicine: detoxicating and reducing fever, reducing swelling and relieving pain. It can treat influenza, high fever, pulmonary tuberculosis, acute gastritis, stomach pain, gastric ulcer, chronic stomach disease, intestinal typhoid, cellulitis, insect and snake bites, boils, rheumatism, etc.

Cultivation methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos

Alocasia macrorrhizos likes high temperatures and humidity, is shade-tolerant, and is not suitable for strong wind or strong light. It is suitable for cultivation in large pots, grows very vigorously and majestically, and has the atmosphere of a tropical landscape. During the flowering period, Alocasia macrorrhizos needs a sufficiently bright light environment; otherwise the spathe will be greenish, affecting quality. It must be ensured 3—5 hours of light per day, otherwise the petioles will elongate and affect ornamental value. Its cold tolerance is not strong, and it should be moved into a greenhouse in mid-October. In summer, it needs to be shaded and frequently sprayed with water to cool down and maintain moisture. For exactly how to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos, let us look at the following four requirements.

1. Alocasia macrorrhizos does not have high requirements for soil. It can be cultivated with nutrient soil mixed from leaf mold, peat soil, river sand and a small amount of thoroughly composted cake fertilizer.

2. The growth temperature for Alocasia macrorrhizos is 20-30 degrees, and it can tolerate a low temperature of 8 degrees at minimum. In summer high temperatures, as long as the soil is kept moist, water is sprayed frequently and shade is provided, it can still grow normally. In winter, the room temperature must not be lower than 5 degrees.

3. Alocasia macrorrhizos is a shade-tolerant plant and likes a semi-shaded environment. It should be placed in an environment that is both shaded and ventilated, and must not be exposed to the scorching sun, so as to avoid large-area sunscald on the plant.

4. Alocasia macrorrhizos is especially fond of moisture. During the growing season, not only must the potting soil be moist, but the air humidity must also be no less than 60%. In summer high temperatures, spraying water should be strengthened to create a relatively cool and humid environment for it. If it is placed in an indoor air-conditioned hall, it is necessary both to keep the potting soil moist and to spray the leaf surfaces from time to time. If the winter room temperature cannot reach 15 degrees, watering should be controlled, otherwise it is easy to cause root rot in the plant. Generally, spraying warm water once a week is enough to keep its leaves dark green.

Precautions

Alocasia macrorrhizos likes a warm, humid and slightly shaded environment, but during the flowering period it needs sufficient sunlight, otherwise the spathe will be greenish, affecting quality. It must be ensured 3—5 hours of light per day, otherwise the petioles will elongate and affect ornamental value. Its cold tolerance is not strong, and it should be moved into a greenhouse in mid-October. In summer, it needs to be shaded and frequently sprayed with water to cool down and maintain moisture. It is better to place it in the living room. The stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos is poisonous, so be careful not to break it; if you get it on you, rinse with water. If there are children at home, it is best not to keep it.

Are Alocasia macrorrhizos and Alocasia odora the same plant

Alocasia macrorrhizos and Alocasia odora are not the same plant.

Alocasia macrorrhizos is also called tiger taro, wild taro, etc. It is an evergreen perennial large herb, up to 3 m tall. The stem is thick and robust, tea-brown, with abundant mucilage inside. The leaves are huge, 30-90 cm long, arrow-shaped, with the main and lateral veins raised on the underside of the leaf; the leaf is peltate, the petiole can reach 1 m long, and the spathe is pale green to milky white, green in the lower part, 10-20 cm long. It is widely distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong and other places, and has the uses of detoxicating and reducing fever, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and can treat influenza, high fever, pulmonary tuberculosis and other conditions.

Alocasia odora (formerly called Haitian taro or Gupo taro), of the genus Alocasia in the Araceae family, also called Buddha's-hand lotus, etc., is called Gupo taro in the Taiwan region of China. It is native to South America and is a common ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical regions. It is commonly known as hen taro, wolf's bane (Guangdong), wild taro, mountain taro, large-root taro, large-insect taro, heavenly taro, Tianmeng, etc., and when used as an ornamental plant it is called Alocasia odora. It is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant with medicinal value; the corm and leaves can be used medicinally, and its leaf sap is poisonous if it enters the mouth, while the rhizome is toxic. Under conditions of warm, humid air and sufficient soil moisture, it will drip water downward from the leaf tips or leaf edges, and its flowers resemble Guanyin, so it is called Alocasia odora. Its flower language is like-mindedness, sincerity, interest, and inner elegance.