Alocasia odora
Alocasia odora, commonly known as the Giant Taro or Odora Alocasia, is a striking tropical perennial celebrated for its massive, heart-shaped foliage. While its impressive scale makes it a stunning ornamental centerpiece, it must be handled with care, as its tissues contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause irritation.
- Scientific name: Alocasia odora
- Family: Araceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Aliasmaetales, it is classified under the family Araceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Alocasia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Alismatales | WCVP |
| Family | Araceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Alocasia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the globe. In Europe, its presence is noted within the borders of Spain in the Southwestern region. It also has a remote occurrence near Ascension in the Middle Atlantic Ocean. Within Asia, the species is widely distributed throughout China, specifically in the South-Central and Southeast areas. Furthermore, the plant can be found inhabiting the tropical landscapes of Hainan.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Middle Atlantic Ocean | Ascension | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
Activities
Alocasia odora has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |