Elephant's ear
| Botanical Name | Alocasia Macrorrhiza |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Origin | Probably Ceylon or Tahiti |
Identification
Large robust plant with thick fleshy rhizomes (underground stems). Sap milky, leaves to 750 x 500 mm, erect, leathery, deep shining green or with white and green patches, oval-triangular in shape, note veins on underside. Stems thick and trunk-like in mature plants, to 5 m x 300 mm, with leaf scars, lower part often lying along the ground. Berry scarlet or orange, glossy.Habitats
Grassy waste land and under trees. Common and a cultivation escape.Impact to Biota and Ecosystems
Shades out natural ground cover.Dispersal Routes, Vectors, Infestation Sources
Cultivation escape around settled areas. Also spread by dumping of garden waste.Management
|
Management |
|
| Physical Control |
Grub out and place tubers where they cannot re-grow. |
| Disposal | |
| Chemical Control |
Metsulfuron at 5g in 10 litres of water plus Penetrant. |
|
Biological Control |
|
| Recommended Approach |
Grub out small areas. Spray larger infestations with Escort. |
Further Comment
As with most Araceae the juice of this plant is toxic and can irritate eyes and soft skin areas. Care should be taken when cutting this plant.