Alocasia venusta

Alocasia venusta was formally described by Alistair Hay in 1998 from collections near the Niah Caves in northern Sarawak. The species is an obligate lithophyte restricted to limestone karst formations of that region. It is identifiable by narrow lanceolate leaves with a bullate, quilted surface and boat-like undulating margins that curve upward. Because of its lithophytic ecology, potted plants require an alkaline, mineral-heavy potting mix with crushed limestone to prevent corm rot.

Native range

Niah Caves area, northern Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (limestone karst)

Classification

Genus

Alocasia

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Lithophytic geophyte

Morphology

Leaf shape

Narrowly lanceolateLance-shaped leaves that are significantly longer than they are wide, tapering to a point at the tip. with concave margins

Leaf length

15-25 cm

Leaf width

4-7 cm

Petiole colour

Pale green with minute brown speckles

Venation

Deeply impressed primary veins creating raised interveinal pillows

Texture

Bullate and coriaceous

Variegation

N/A

Growth habit

Compact upright herb with a small subterranean corm