Alocasia brisbanensis

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Monocots > Alismatales > Araceae >Alocasia brisbanensis 

Other links:     

Plant  information

Common name:                Cunjevoi

• Also, Spoon Lily

Conservation status:  unknown

Etymology:   

• The common name "cunjevoi" derives from the Bundjalung language of northern NSW

Flowers:                  

• The perfumed, summer flowers are greenish-cream in colour, and similar to an arum lily

Fruit:                         

• Red fruits follow the flowering

Leaves:         

• Has very large, spade-shaped leaves on long, fleshy petioles

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

•  Grows to a height of 1.5 m

Habitat:   

• Rainforests

Distribution:                  

• Native to eastern Australia

Additional notes:     

• • Poison

    • The plant is poisonous

    • Skin contact can lead to skin and eye irritation

    • Eating it causes immediate pain, burning sensation and swelling of the lips, tongue and mouth

    • Deaths have been reported

    • The poisonous agent is insoluble oxalate

    • As first aid rinse lengthily, administer small amount of milk, do not induce vomiting

  • The plant, related to Taro, is edible when well cooked

  • The closely related and almost indistinguishable plant Alocasia macrorrhizos is cultivated as a food plant in some parts of Oceania

Sources of information:

• (2023)