Alocasia brisbanensis
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
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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]
Description
[edit]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]
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Alocasia brisbanensis (cunjevoi) growing at Dorrigo National Park, Australia
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Species profile—Alocasia brisbanensis". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Alocasia brisbanensis". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Alocasia brisbanensis (F.M.Bailey) Domin". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "Alocasia brisbanensis". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Aboriginal words in English". State Library of Queensland. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ Wrigley, John; Fagg, Murray (1997). Australian Native Plants (4 ed.). Kew, Victoria: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7301-0493-1.
- ^ "Cunjevoi (Alocasia brisbanensis)". Children's Health Queensland. Queensland Government. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
External links
[edit]- Data related to Alocasia brisbanensis at Wikispecies
- Media related to Alocasia brisbanensis at Wikimedia Commons
- View a map of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver
Notes
[edit]- ^ The term "cunjevoi" also refers to a marine animal