Alocasia robusta M.Hotta

Wong, Sin Yeng & Joling, Jyloerica, 2021, Checklist of aroids (Alismatales, Araceae) from Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), Check List 17 (3), pp. 931-974 : 942

Alocasia robusta M.Hotta

Figure 2F

Material examined. MALAYSIA – Pedalaman • Keningau, TBC, Mile 21; 05°08′37″N, 116°17′20″E; 850 m elev.; 22 February 2003; Kinahim et al. SP 17856 ( SNP) • Sipitang, Chi Hin waterfall; 05°02′30″N, 115°50′39″E; 412 m elev.; 23 March 1999; R. Kiew & Ali I., Ruth Kiew 4647 ( SAN) – Pantai Barat • Ranau, Mount Tombuyukon, Sub-station Monggis , summit trail to Mount Tombuyukon ; 06°12′50″N, 116°39′20″E; 400 m elev.; 13 December 2009; Yabainus J. KNP 18147 ( SNP) – Tawau • Lahad Datu, Tabin Wildlife Reserve ; 05°12′N, 118°38′E; 150 m elev.; 4 July 2000; Kjeldsen K. H. Kjeld- sen 186 ( SAN) • Tawau, Tawau Hills Park ; 04°59′30″N, 117°11′00″E; 22 April 1992; Berhaman et al. SAN 134531 ( SAN) .

Identification. Alocasia robusta is a gigantic arborescent herb with leaf blades strikingly glaucous on the underside. This species resembles A. macrorrhizos , with a rather similar subtriangular ovato-sagittate leaf outline but can be distinguished by the posterior costae with tissue extending into the sinus and the glaucous abaxial side to the blade. The seedlings, even when quite large, have peltate leaves with the undersides glaucous and the whole glabrous (cf. A. sarawakensis ). The inflorescences are very different from those of A. macrorrhizos , both in their clustered arrangement, and the thick marcescent/ deliquescent cataphylls (bits of which often adhere to the open spathe), the ivory horizontally red-marked lower spathe and the thick greyish to purplish limb ( Hay 1998).

Distribution and ecology. Widespread. Wet but welldrained open disturbed places, roadside, plantations, riverbanks, land slides, and canopy gaps in lowland to lower montane forest.