From the archive record
Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved rhizomatous or tuberous perennials from the family Araceae, native to tropical and subtropical Asia to Eastern Australia, and widely cultivated elsewhere. Alocasia are distinctly exotic and tropical plants that are increasingly becoming popular as houseplants.They are typically grown as pot plants, but a better way is to grow the plants permanently in the controlled conditions of a greenhouse. They do not do well in the dark and need good lighting if inside the house. The large cordate or sagittate leaves grow to a length of 20 to 90 cm on long petioles. Their araceous flowers grow at the end of a short stalk, but are not conspicuous; often hidden behind the leaf petioles. The stem (a corm) is edible, but contains raphid or raphide crystals of Calcium ox