Asian Taro
Alocasia odora
Its flowers release a sweet, lily-like scent at night and use thermogenesis (heat production) to attract insect pollinators.
- Scientific name
- Alocasia odora
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Liliopsida › Alismatales › Araceae › Alocasia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Moist tropical and subtropical forest understories, forest edges, and riparian zones
- Diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
- Range
- China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, India
- Size
- 1.5 to 2.5 meters tall, with leaves reaching up to 1 meter in length
- Lifespan
- Perennial (decades via rhizomatous growth)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, land clearing, and urbanization, though it is highly resilient and invasive in some non-native regions.
- Safe to approach?
- Defensive/Toxic. The plant contains microscopic, needle-like calcium oxalate crystals. Do not ingest any part of this plant, as it causes severe burning and swelling of the throat and mouth. Avoid getting sap on your skin or eyes, as it causes painful irritation. If contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water. If ingested, seek medical help immediately.
Alocasia odora (also called night-scented lily , Asian taro or giant upright elephant ear ) is a flowering plant native to East and Southeast Asia (Japan, China, Indochina, Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Taiwan). In Manipur, local name is Hoomu. Alocasia odora (called Ray ) can be used as medicine for the treatment of common cold in North Vietnam.
Photo: 卢江离, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/5a8a9d08-7e50-4899-b254-89bc5cac01ec.md