Cunjevoi | |
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Growing near the Wilson River, Australia | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Alismatales |
Family: | Araceae |
Genus: | Alocasia |
Species: | A. brisbanensis |
Binomial name | |
Alocasia brisbanensis | |
Synonyms [3] | |
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Alocasia brisbanensis, commonly known as cunjevoi [a] or spoon lily, [1] [2] [4] is a species of plant in the family Araceae native to rainforests of eastern Australia. The common name "cunjevoi" derives from the Bundjalung language of northern New South Wales. [5]
Alocasia brisbanensis has very large, spade-shaped leaves on long, fleshy petioles, and grows to a height of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in). The perfumed, summer flowers are greenish-cream in colour, and similar to an arum lily. Red fruits follow the flowering. [4] [6]
The plant is poisonous, and contact with the sap can lead to skin and eye irritation due to the presence of needle-like crystals of Calcium oxalate. [4] Eating any part of the plant causes immediate pain, a burning sensation and swelling of the lips, tongue and mouth. A small number of children have died as a result of eating parts of the plant. [7]