Alocasia macrorrhiza


Family: Araceae

English name: Wild taro

Pohnpeian name: Wehd, Oht, Soupwkin

Chuukese name: Buna

Kosraen name: Onak

Yapese name: La'iy nikan

Location collected: Lehnmesi river side.

Date collected: 27 November1998

Collected by: Jenson Santos

Vegetative characteristics:

Habit & Habitat: Terrestrial herb; It is common around houses, high elevations, wet and damp areas, and often found along river sides or streams.

Leaf shape and morphology: 1.5 m long. Heart shaped (cordata) leaves on 2-3ft stalk, with the rounded apical lobe pointing up, the basal lobes also rounded, upper leaf surface glossy green.

Stem type: Large erect herb to 3m tall with well-developed above ground stem, 1-2m tall in older plants.

Floral characteristics: Single flower on a pedicle 2-5ft. long. Borne on spadix surrounded by a spathe.

Uses: Alocasia macrorrhiza (Wild taro) is a source of famine food in Micronesia. It is also used in treatment of healing large wound. Its large leaves are used to cover the Pohnpeian stone oven (umw), and also used as umbrella. It has some traditional importances in Pohnpei, too.

For other information on this species by a different author please see: http://www.geocities.com/upees

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