Alocasia suhirmaniana

Alocasia suhirmaniana was formally described by Yuzammi and Alistair Hay in 1998, published in Telopea. It is endemic to Southeast Sulawesi, where it inhabits humid lowland forest floors overlying nickel-rich ultramafic soils. The plant produces broad sagittate leaves with silvery-grey primary veins that contrast against dark green tissue and deep purple-violet undersides. In domestic cultivation, specimens enter cold-induced dormancy if root zone temperatures drop below 18°C.

Native range

Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia (lowland forest floor over nickel-rich ultramafic soils)

Classification

Genus

Alocasia

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Tuberous geophyte

Morphology

Leaf shape

SagittateArrowhead-shaped leaves, with pointed lobes at the base pointing downwards. to ovateEgg-shaped leaves, with the wider end near the base.-cordateHeart-shaped foliage, featuring a rounded notch (sinus) where the leaf stem attaches. with acute basal lobes

Leaf length

30-45 cm

Leaf width

18-25 cm

Petiole colour

Pale green with purple-brown mottling

Venation

Silvery-grey primary lateral veins

Texture

Sub-coriaceous and glossy adaxially

Variegation

Natural silvery venation pattern

Growth habit

Acaulescent geophyte emerging from a compact corm