Alocasia flower is rarely used for home breeding; only a few of its species are planted. It features eye-catching leaves.
Alocasia is rare in specialized stores, although it looks spectacular.
About the history of appearance
Alocasia first appeared in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. They are also found in nature in Malaysia and Ceylon. There are more than fifty varieties in their genus. Alocasia differ in height, size, shape and color of leaf plates. Their most famous distinguishing feature is the ability to "cry". With prolonged rains, water from the soil in the plant cells is not absorbed, and excess is released in the form of drops on the leaves.
Alocasia
Therapeutic antitumor properties of alokasia Alokasia macrorhiza
Large-rhizome species is considered medicinal alocasia. With its help, tumors are treated. To date, studies are being conducted on the effect on the body of tinctures and ointments from this plant. Scientists have obtained positive results. Also, the influence of Alocasia of Armah was investigated by the Buryat herbalist Badmaev. He also noticed a positive healing effect from the tincture.
Many modern medical publications, edited by Chinese scientists, on the therapeutic effects of alocasia have been released. In 2012, they studied the effects of Armagh on hepatocellular carcinoma. They found that Alokasia macrorhiza has healing antitumor properties. It kills cancer cells in the liver. The drug from this plant is recognized by official medicine as a cure for liver tumors.
The doctor prescribes the treatment regimen and strictly controls it. The secret is in the features of taking tinctures. Typically, the drug is taken one drop diluted in 1 tbsp. water. Every day, the dose of 1 drop increases. Then the amount of medicine decreases in the reverse order. The course lasts 2 months. To repeat it, you need to take a long break. Such a scheme was developed by L. Kim. According to the healer, the dose cannot be exceeded, since the tincture acts comprehensively on the entire body.
Flower description
Alocasia is a perennial herb. It belongs to the Aroid family. The flower has more than fifty varieties. They all differ in size, shape, color of leaves, trunk height. Alocasia is similar to the presence of tubers, thyroid, arrow-shaped, heart-shaped or oval leaves with a pointed tip and high density, as well as bright veins on them and white (yellow) strokes.
Alocasia bloom
The color of the plate is not only green, but also with redness. In some species, leaves may differ on each side, such as in copper-red alocasia. Sometimes plates are asymmetrically dissected into triangular or oval shapes.
The size of the leaves is from 20-100 centimeters in adult plants. They are dense and large, held by long thick petioles. Different types differ in the number of leaf blades.
On the leaves there is stomata - hydatodes through which the plant discharges excess water. Under the natural conditions of alocasia, it is necessary to discharge moisture, since it cannot absorb it all during heavy rains. In indoor conditions, drops of liquid appear on the leaves at those moments when the flower was very saturated with water, or high humidity in the room. This moisture is called milky juice.
Additional Information. In connection with the phenomenon of moisture, the plant was called the "weatherman". Rain is predicted from this flower, since with increasing humidity, alocasia begins to release droplets on the leaves.
Newly emerging leaves are protected by cataphillas. In other plants, this function is performed by the lower expanded part of the leaf, covering the stem. It is called the vagina. In alocasia, it is long, falling or permanent.
A flower can have gigantic dimensions, growing in the form of a tree, and reach 2 meters. Also, alocasia can be small - up to 40 cm high. The plant is considered evergreen. Can throw off leaves only for the winter. Alocasia rarely blooms, is distinguished by the unusual buds and fruits. When flowering occurs, the plant has only one leaf.
Important! Indoor flower alocasia is poisonous. It must be kept away from children and animals, as it negatively affects the mucous membranes and skin.
The stems of alocasia are strong, thick, shortened, vertical, sometimes elongated and creeping. The roots are bulbs, thick and short.
Additional Information. By the appearance of the leaf, the plant is called the "elephant ear". The main species have only 3 leaves, their other name is "trefoil". When forming the 4th, the oldest of them begins to turn yellow and die.
Soil composition: sand, fertile humus, crushed bark in equal proportions. Propagation by leaves, nodules, stem cuttings, division of the bush, seeds, rhizome.
How to bloom
The plant rarely blooms. In nature, there are few species in which buds are formed. Why doesn’t bloom? Flowers begin to form only in adults. This happens when creating favorable conditions in the fifth year of development. Flowering causes stress in alocasia. Since the formation of buds takes a lot of power from the plant, many species discard foliage. Alocasia growth slows down. New leaves cease to form. Therefore, those who want to preserve the beauty of the flower need to remove the buds.
How does alocasia bloom? Mostly deciduous varieties appear buds with the emergence of a new leaf. The shape of the inflorescence is unusual, svezhevidnaya, resembles an ear. It is covered by a sheet in the form of a slightly expanded scroll. The peduncle is dense shortened.
The buds are small in size and fragrant. Flowers come in a pale pink or light beige hue.
Polly
When the buds are pollinated, they form fruit berries. Their shape is elliptical or hemispherical. The color of the berries is red. Inside them there are seeds, 1-5 pieces.
Types and varieties of alocasia
Under natural conditions, there are alocasia species of about seventy. There are only a few flower types on offer for a room. Their height reaches no more than one meter. In nature, Alokasia can grow up to 3 meters.
Types of alocasia in height:
- Large street views, a height of more than a meter - large-root, Kalidora;
- Species used at home, height up to a meter - Sander, Amazonica, Hoodweed, Polly.
All these species differ in the form of leaves.
Polly
Alocasia Polly is a hybrid of Sander, a leafy-decorative and tall plant.
The species itself is low and compact (up to 50-65 centimeters), its stem is short. The leaves of the Polly variety are large, shield-like, pointed. They are kept on powerful petioles. The color of the leaves is dark green, the surface is glossy, there are white veins. There are denticles along the edges of the plate. Leaf size: length - 50 cm, width - 20 cm. Another name for the species is "African mask". It appeared due to the unusual color and shape of the plate.
Additional Information. Alocasia is often used for decorative purposes because of its spectacular leaves. They are placed in the lobby, foyer, near decorative fountains, in winter gardens.
Large-rhizome species
Belongs to tall, reaches 3-5 meters. The diameter of the plant is about 2.5 meters. Additionally, such alocasia is called mountain, lead-gray, thick-stemmed. Large-root alocasia is found in South Asia, in Australian forests, on the islands of Oceania. Places of growth - the extreme parts of the wet field, near residential buildings, ditches near the road.
The color of the leaf is light green, one tone. The plate itself is oval and pointed at the end, the edges are sinuous. Its dimensions are very large: length - 1-1.2 m, width - 0.5 m. Due to these parameters, large-rhizome alocasia is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Such huge leaves are kept by fleshy and strong petioles, the length of which is 60-130 cm, and a vertical one and a half meter trunk.
Large-root species
Large-root alocasia is also called thick-stemmed, Indian, Armagh. Her native land is East India. In Russia, this species is not very popular. The plant is tall, reaches 1.5-2 meters at home, in nature - 5 m. The stem is strong and fleshy. The color of the leaves is plain light green. Size - up to 1 meter.
Large-rhizome species
A large-root alocasia plant, unlike other species, easily tolerates changes in temperature and humidity, and overdrying of tubers.
Calidora
Calidor alocasia is obtained by crossing odorous odococcus and gageana alocasia. Plant height - 1.5-2 meters. The color of the plates is bright green. Size: length - up to a meter, width - 50-70 cm.
Calidora
Flowers exude aroma. The care is no different from other species. Calidors need open spaces.
Sander
Alocasia Sander is a tall species. The height reaches 2 meters. Shortened rhizome, consisting of tubers. Plate size: length - 30-40 cm and width - 15-30 centimeters. Form - in the form of a shield or arrow, elongated.
Sander
The color is dark green, there is a glossy silver tint, the edge and veins on a sheet of white shade. The leaves are held on strong petioles 25-60 cm long, their color is brownish-green.
Lauterbahiana
The homeland of the alocasia of Lauterbahiana is New Guinea. The plant is rarely found in indoor cultivation, but is increasingly gaining popularity. Another such flower is called the alocasia of Lauterbach, in honor of the German natural scientist Karl Lauterbach who discovered it. He was the director of the German New Guinea Company at the time.
Lauterbach
The plant has dark green leaves on one side and brown on the other. The shape of the plates is swept with a pointed end. The edging is uneven, sinuous and rounded. Petioles are long fleshy. The height of the plant in the room is 35-70 cm.
Additional Information. In indigenous people in the tropics, alocasia is used to treat tuberculosis, cancer, and various ulcers.
Stingray
Alocasia Stingray is considered an exotic species, distinguished by its leaves resembling stingrays. From this came its name. The plant appeared as a result of a natural mutation. This species was recorded by breeders.
Stingray
The variety is unique with green tailed plates. Leaves are collected along the central vein. Stingray is one of the most beautiful deciduous decorative species of the Aroid family.
Kukulata
Alocasia Kukulata is a tall plant, it is more used in spacious rooms. Its second name is Hood. The color of the leaves is from light to dark green. At the point of attachment to the petiole, there is a swelling on the plate. The shape of the leaves is in the form of a heart with pointed tips. Streaks are clearly visible on the plates. The size of the leaves is very large. They are attached to a thick stem on long stalks.
The root system consists of tubers that surround the main maternal. Flowering can be observed only in adults with many leaves. Cob buds are covered with a coverlet over almost the entire area.
Kukulata
When caring for alocasia, you need to wipe the leaves to maintain an attractive decorative look. In winter, for the plant, it is necessary to organize additional lighting. The culture is considered medicinal, also the stems and rhizomes can be eaten.
Additional Information. In Chinese medicine, all the elements of alocasia are used for treatment: with snake bites, abscesses, rheumatism, arthritis.
Amazonian alocasia
The plant is a hybrid. Derived from the varieties of Sander and Low. Alocasia Amazonica is a deciduous decorative plant. The height of the stem is 15-20 centimeters. The shape of the leaves is thyroid, at the base there is a cut. On the plates, individual parts are visible on which clear white veins are located. The color of the leaves is dark green. The edges of the plate are wavy and serrated. The petioles are 40-60 cm long. Their color is pink-green with dark dashes.
The flowers of the alocasia of the Amazon are white-pink. Inflorescences look like a fifteen-centimeter cob. Fruits in indoor conditions do not ripen.
Amazonica
Alocasia reaches a height of one meter at home. Crohn grows in diameter to 80 centimeters.
Black velvet
The stem of this species is low, up to 10 centimeters. The shape of the leaves is round or oval. Sizes: length - 35 cm, width - 25 cm. Petioles are strong, length is 15-25 centimeters. The height of the plant at home reaches up to 45 centimeters. Leaf color: the bottom of the plate is plain green, the top is dark and velvet, giving a metallic sheen. They also have white streaks. This feature is a hallmark of black velveteen.
Additional Information. Alocasia Black velvet is also called velvet, "Black Velvet".
Black velvet
Pink buds are gathered on the cob, its length reaches 10 centimeters.
The Dragon
The variety is very popular. Its leaves are oval-heart-shaped with an elongated tip. In appearance they resemble the wings and skin of a dragon. The color of the leaves is light green with a metallic overflow called silver. Dark green streaks are drawn on the plates. Alocasia Dragon reaches 1 meter in height. Petioles are light green long. The trunk is short.
Alocasia is a unique and beautiful plant. They add a twist to interior design.
