Alocasia flower - indoor and outdoor plant
Content:
Alocasia flower for home cultivation is rarely used, only a few of its species are planted. Differs in eye-catching leaves.
Alocasia is rarely found in specialized stores, although it looks impressive.
About the history of appearance
For the first time, alocasia appeared in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. They are also found in natural conditions in Malaysia and Ceylon. There are more than fifty varieties in their genus. Alocasia differ in height, size, shape and color of the 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 the excess is released in the form of drops on the leaves.
Alocasia
Therapeutic antineoplastic properties of alocasia Alokasia macrorhiza
The large-rhizome type is considered alocasia medicinal. With its help, tumors are treated. Currently, studies are being conducted on the effect on the body of tinctures and ointments from this plant. Scientists have received positive results. The Buryat herbalist Badmaev also studied the influence of Arma's alocasia. He also noticed a positive healing effect from the tincture.
There have been many modern medical publications published under the editorship of Chinese scientists on the therapeutic effect of alocasia. In 2012, they studied the effect of Arma on hepatocellular carcinoma. They found that Alokasia macrorhiza has medicinal anticancer properties. It kills cancer cells in the liver. The drug from this plant is recognized by official medicine as a remedy for hepatic tumors.
The treatment regimen is prescribed by a doctor and strictly monitors it. The secret lies in the peculiarities of taking tincture. Usually, the drug is taken one drop at a time, diluted in 1 tbsp. water. Every day, the dose of 1 drop increases. Then the amount of medicine is reduced in 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, it is impossible to exceed the dose, since the tincture has a complex effect on the entire body.
Description of the flower
Alocasia is a perennial herb. She belongs to the Aroid family. The flower has more than fifty varieties. They all differ in size, shape, foliage color, trunk height. They are similar to alocasia by the presence of tubers, thyroid, arrow-shaped, cordate or oval leaves with a pointed tip and high density, as well as bright veins on them and white (yellow) strokes.
Alocasia flowering
The color of the plate is not only green, but also reddened. In some species, the leaves may differ on each side, such as copper-red alocasia. Sometimes the plates are asymmetrically dissected into triangular or oval shapes.
The size of the leaves ranges from 20-100 centimeters in adult plants. They are dense and large, held together by long, thick petioles. Different species have a different number of leaf plates.
The leaves have stomata - hydatodes, through which the plant dumps excess water. In natural conditions, alocasia needs to dump moisture, since it cannot absorb all of it during heavy rains. In room conditions, drops of liquid appear on the leaves at those moments when the flower is heavily saturated with water, or in the room there is high humidity.This moisture is called milky juice.
The newly emerging leaves are protected by cataphylls. In other plants, this function is performed by the lower expanded part of the leaf, covering the stem. It's called the vagina. In alocasia, it is long, falling, or permanent.
The flower can be gigantic in size, 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, differs in the unusualness of buds and fruits. When flowering occurs, the plant has only one leaf left.
Stems of alocasia are strong, thick, shortened, vertical, sometimes elongated and creeping. The roots are bulbs, thick and short.
Soil composition: sand, fertile humus, crushed bark in equal proportions. Reproduction by leaves, nodules, stem cuttings, dividing the bush, seeds, rhizome.
How it blooms
The plant rarely blooms. In nature, there are few varieties that form buds. Why doesn't it bloom? Flowers begin to form only in adults. This happens when favorable conditions are created in the fifth year of development. Flowering is stressful for alocasia. Since bud formation takes a lot of energy from the plant, many species shed their foliage. The growth of alocasia slows down. New leaves stop forming. Therefore, those who want to preserve the beauty of the flower need to remove the buds.
How does alocasia bloom? Basically, the deciduous variety has buds along with the emergence of a new leaf. The shape of the inflorescence is unusual, candle-shaped, reminiscent of an ear. It is covered with a sheet in the form of a slightly unfolded scroll. The pedicel is dense, shortened.
The buds are small in size, have a scent. Flowers are pale pink or light beige.
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 each.
Types and varieties of alocasia
In natural conditions, there are about seventy species of alocasia. There are only a few types of flower on sale 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, more than a meter high - large-rooted, Kalidora;
- Types used at home, height up to a meter - Sandera, Amazonica, klobuchkovaya, Polly.
All these species also differ in the shape of the leaves.
Polly
Alocasia Polly is a hybrid of Sandera, a deciduous ornamental 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 keep on powerful stalks. The color of the leaves is dark green, the surface is glossy, there are white veins. There are teeth on 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.
Large rhizome species
It belongs to tall, reaches 3-5 meters. The diameter of the plant is about 2.5 meters.Additionally, such alocasia is called mountainous, lead-gray, thick-stemmed. Alokaziya krupnokornevischnaya is found in South Asia, in Australian forests, on the islands of Oceania. Growing places - extreme parts of a wet field, near residential buildings, ditches near the road.
Leaf color 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. Thanks to these parameters, large-rhizome alocasia is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Such huge leaves are held by fleshy and strong petioles, the length of which is 60-130 cm, and a vertical one and a half meter trunk.
Large-root view
Large-root alocasia is also called thick-stemmed, Indian, Arma. Her homeland 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 solid light green. Size - up to 1 meter.
Large rhizome species
The large-rooted alocasia plant, unlike other species, easily tolerates temperature and humidity changes, dry tubers.
Kalidora
Alocasia Kalidor is obtained by crossing alocasia scent and gageana. Plant height - 1.5-2 meters. The color of the plates is bright green. Size: length - up to a meter, width - 50-70 cm.
Kalidora
The flowers exude aroma. In care it does not differ from other types. Kalidora needs open spaces.
Sander
Alocasia Sander is a tall species. The height reaches 2 meters. Shortened rhizome, consisting of tubers. The size of the plates: length - 30-40 cm and width - 15-30 centimeters. The shape is in the form of a shield or arrow, elongated.
Sander
The color is dark green, there is a silver glossy tint, the edge and veins on the sheet are white. Leaves are held on strong stalks 25-60 cm long, their color is brown-green.
Lauterbachiana
The birthplace of Alokazia Lauterbachian is New Guinea. The plant is rarely found in indoor cultivation, but it is gaining more and more popularity. Another such flower is called alocasia Lauterbach, in honor of the German naturalist Karl Lauterbach who discovered it. He was the director of the German New Guinea Company at the time.
Lauterbach
The leaves of the plant are dark green on one side and brown on the other. The shape of the plates is arrow-shaped with a pointed end. The edging is uneven, sinuous and rounded. The petioles are long, fleshy. The height of the plant indoors is 35-70 cm.
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 natural mutation. This type has been 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 ornamental species of the Aroid family.
Kukulata
Alokazia Kukulata is a tall plant, it is more used in spacious rooms. Its second name is klobuchkovy. The color of the leaves is from light to dark green. There is a swelling at the site of attachment to the petiole on the plate. The shape of the leaves is in the form of a heart with pointed tips. Veins are clearly visible on the plates. The leaves are very large in size. They are attached to a thick stem with long stalks.
The root system is made up of tubers that surround the main maternal root. Flowering can only be observed in adults with many leaves. The buds-cobs are covered with a blanket almost over the entire area.
Kukulata
When caring for alocasia, you need to wipe the leaves in order to maintain an attractive decorative appearance. In winter, additional lighting must be provided for the plant. The culture is considered medicinal, and the stems and rhizomes can also be eaten.
Alokazia amazonian
The plant is a hybrid. Derived from Sander and Low varieties. Alokazia Amazonica is a deciduous ornamental plant. The stem height is 15-20 centimeters. The shape of the leaves is thyroid, with an incision at the base. Separate parts are visible on the plates, on which white clear veins are located. The color of the leaves is dark green. The edges of the plate are wavy and jagged. The petioles are 40-60 cm long. Their color is pink-green with dark lines.
The flowers of the Amazonian alocasia are white and pink. The inflorescences look like a fifteen-centimeter ear. Fruits do not ripen in room conditions.
Amazonica
Alocasia houses are one meter high. The crown grows in diameter up to 80 centimeters.
Black corduroy
The stem of this species is low, up to 10 centimeters. The shape of the leaves is round or oval. Dimensions: length - 35 cm, width - 25 cm. The petioles are strong, the length is 15-25 centimeters. The height of the plant at home reaches up to 45 centimeters. Leaf color: from below the plates are solid green, from above - dark and velvety, giving off a metallic sheen. They also have white streaks. This feature is the hallmark of Black Corduroy.
Black corduroy
Pink buds are collected 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 sheen called silver. Dark green streaks are visible on the plates. Alokazia Dragon reaches 1 meter in height. Its petioles are light green long. The trunk is short.
Alocasia are unique and beautiful plants. They add flavor to the interior design.
