Alocasia melo

Alocasia melo is a dwarf jewel Alocasia endemic to the Sabah region of Borneo, where it grows in ultramafic soils on rocky forest slopes. Its leaves are extremely thick and almost cardboard-like, with a deeply rugose, brain-like texture and a dark bluish-green to grey-green coloration. The leaves form a compact, low-growing rosette. Because of its specific native habitat, it requires excellent drainage and careful watering.

Native range

Borneo (Sabah)

Classification

Genus

Alocasia

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Compact, self-heading

Morphology

Leaf shape

Broadly ovateEgg-shaped leaves, with the wider end near the base. to peltate, deeply rugose

Leaf length

15-22cm

Leaf width

12-18cm

Petiole colour

Greyish green

Venation

Deeply sunken primary and secondary veins

Texture

Extremely thick, stiff, rough, leather-like

Variegation

None

Growth habit

Basal rosette from corm