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1Alocasia melo A.Hay, P.C.Boyce & K.M.Wong (1997)
- Taxonomy
- Family: Araceae · Genus: Alocasia4
- Plant type
- Perennial, herbaceous aroid (Araceae)
- Natural habitat
- Lowland tropical rainforest on ultrabasic rock: in rock crevices and thin soil, on steep banks of fast-flowing streams, at an altitude of 120–400 m
- Height / growth form
- Small stature, about 25–35 cm tall; short, upright stem; shield-shaped, leathery leaves approximately 18–25 × 15 cm, deeply wrinkled-bumpy and bluish-green on top; smooth, pale greenish-white underneath3
- Ecology
- Rare, indigenous species tied to ultrabasic soil; requires high temperature and humidity, lives in a location protected from direct sunlight
Still missing: flowering period, growth & dormancy period.
Sources (5)
- powo.science.kew.org · Accepted name
- tb.plazi.org · Native distribution
- en.wikipedia.org · Height / growth form
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy – Alocasia melo · Scientific name · CC BY 4.0
- GBIF – distributions (Catalogue of Life; The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)) · Native distribution · CC BY 4.0
Automatic data comes from the open sources above, credited per their licences. Care experience is shown separately below.
Tips & experience from members
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How members water it
Not enough logs yet: at least 3 plants with regular watering logs are needed (now: 0). Waterings logged in Care feed this – anonymised and aggregated.
How it thrives
Watermediumgeneral genus data
Lightbright indirectgeneral genus data
Humidityhighgeneral genus data
Min. temperature18 °Cgeneral genus dataNo monthly schedule is shown because cultivar-/species-level data is not yet sufficient. The general values above are guidance only.
Alocasia tip: It often drops leaves in winter – that is rest, not death; water less then.
Bornean native aroid, named for its deeply wrinkled-bumpy, thick leaves that resemble the skin of a cantaloupe. It is often sold in commerce under the name "Alocasia rugosa." It is small in size, about 25–35 cm tall; it requires high humidity and warmth.
Alocasia melo – what to know
Alocasia melo – family: Araceae, genus: Alocasia. Native range: Borneo: exclusively Sabah (Malaysia), indigenous species. General care guidelines for the genus Alocasia (no species-specific data yet): light: bright indirect; water: medium; min. 18 °C. One Perfect Plants Club member grows it (1 photos). For cats: moderately toxic; for dogs: moderately toxic. Keep it out of reach and call a vet straight away if you suspect poisoning.
All Alocasia species in the catalog →Detailed toxicity data →
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Alocasia melo?
According to the general guideline for the genus Alocasia: Moderately: water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry, and never let it sit in standing water.
How much light does Alocasia melo need?
According to the general guideline for the genus Alocasia: It likes bright but indirect light, such as near an east- or west-facing window.
How cold can Alocasia melo get?
According to the general guideline for the genus Alocasia: Keep it above 18 °C – it is frost-tender and needs a frost-free spot in winter.
Is Alocasia melo toxic to cats and dogs?
For cats: moderately toxic; for dogs: moderately toxic. Keep it out of reach and call a vet straight away if you suspect poisoning.
What members’ data shows
When does it really bloom?
No blooms logged yet. If yours flowers, your data will be the first!
Average watering interval
Not enough watering logs yet. Waterings logged in the care hub feed this chart.
Who grows it?
Gallery
Questions about this species
Alocasia
Data sources: Wikipedia – en.wikipedia.org · GBIF.org – Alocasia melo (CC BY 4.0) · Care data is for guidance only.
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