SimplePlant

Araceae

Giant taro

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don

Family
Araceae
Genus
Alocasia

Pets and kids

  • CatsNot sure
  • DogsNot sure
  • KidsNot sure
Why

Cats: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Dogs: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Kids: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for young children, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with a doctor or poison control.

Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.

Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos)
FlowerPhoto: Dr. Alexey Yakovlev, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Common names

By language (24)
ace
Birah
Arabic
إلقس أذن الفيل
arz
القس اذن الفيل
ban
Keladi goak
Bangla
মানকচু
bew
Sèntè
Cantonese
海芋
Chinese
海芋, 蘭嶼姑婆芋, 大海芋, 热亚海芋, 野芋实, 鉛觀音蓮, 铅观音莲
Dutch
Alocasie
English
Giant taro, 'ape, Biga, Cunjevoi, Giant alocasia, Pia, Metallic taro
Filipino
Biga, Badiang
German
Riesenblättriges Pfeilblatt
Indonesian
Bira
lzh
海芋
Malagasy
Saombia, Saonjobia
Malay
Birah negeri, Birah betul, Keladi gajah, Keladi sebaring, Keladi seberang
Malayalam
ആനച്ചേമ്പ്
Polish
Alokazja olbrzymia
pwn
Qaynguway, Qainguay
Russian
Алоказия крупнокорневищная, Алоказия горная, Алоказия свинцово-серая, Алоказия толстостебельная
Tamil
பெருஞ்சேம்பு
Thai
กระดาด
Tongan
Kape
Vietnamese
Ráy

Synonyms

  • Alocasia cordifolia (Bory) Cordem.
  • Alocasia gigas Chantrier ex André
  • Alocasia grandis N.E.Br.
  • Alocasia harrisiipulchrum Pynaert
  • Alocasia indica Schott
  • Alocasia insignis Pynaert
  • Alocasia macrorrhizos var. variegata (K.Koch & C.D.Bouché) Furtado
  • Alocasia marginata N.E.Br.
  • Alocasia pallida K.Koch & C.D.Bouché
  • Alocasia plumbea Van Houtte
  • Alocasia rapiformis (Roxb.) Schott
  • Alocasia uhinkii Engl. & K.Krause
  • Arum cordifolium Bory
  • Arum macrorrhizon L.
  • Arum mucronatum Lam.
  • Arum peregrinum L.
  • Arum rapiforme Roxb.
  • Caladium indica K.Koch
  • Caladium macrorrhizon (L.) R.Br.
  • Caladium metallicum Engl.
  • Caladium odoratum G.Lodd.
  • Caladium plumbeum K.Koch
  • Calla badian Blanco
  • Calla maxima Blanco
  • Colocasia boryi Kunth
  • Colocasia indica Hassk.
  • Colocasia macrorrhizos (L.) Schott
  • Colocasia mucronata (Lam.) Kunth
  • Colocasia peregrina (L.) Raf.
  • Colocasia rapiformis (Roxb.) Kunth
  • Philodendron peregrinum (L.) Kunth
  • Philodendron punctatum Kunth

Flowers

In flower
February to April, June to August, October (from 20 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)

Characteristics

Growth habit
Forb/herb
Lifespan
Perennial
In the US and Canada
Hawaii: introduced, Lower 48 states: introduced, Pacific Basin: introduced, Puerto Rico: introduced

Photos

More in Alocasia

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0); common names from SimplePlant editors (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.