| Alocasia heterophylla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alocasia heterophylla in the Philippines | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Genus: | Alocasia |
| Species: | A. heterophylla |
| Binomial name | |
| Alocasia heterophylla | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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Alocasia heterophylla is a plant in the family Araceae. It is endemic to the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, and Polillo in the Philippines. [1]
A. heterophylla grows to around 50 centimetres (1.6 ft) tall. It usually bears around 3 to 5 leaves. The petiole is 35 centimetres (1.15 ft) long. The leaves, like its specific name implies, are highly variable in shape, even in one individual. They are usually triangular, sagittate (arrow-shaped), to hastate (spear-shaped). The leaf attachment can be deeply peltate (the inner margins of the back lobes are fused together behind the petiole attachment), shallowly peltate, or non-peltate. The leaves range in size from 20 to 27 centimetres (7.9 to 10.6 in) long. The leaf margins are entire or shallowly sinuate (wavy). [2] [3]
A. heterophylla is very similar to Alocasia ramosii and Alocasia boyceana , which are also endemic to the Philippines and are all grouped with A. heterophylla under the "Heterophylla Group" of the genus Alocasia . It can be distinguished from the other two by having fewer primary lateral veins (3 to 4) that curve towards the distal end of the leaf, the widely separated secondary veins, a gradually constricting spathe, and a conspicuously broader submarginal vein at the leaf margins. Both A. ramosii and A. boyceana are also always non-peltate, while A. heterophylla can sometimes have peltate leaves in mature specimens. [2]
Alocasia heterophylla are restricted to limestone-rich areas of the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, and Polillo. They are usually found near beaches at elevations of 29 to 200 metres (95 to 656 ft) above sea level. [3]
