Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Alocasia brisbanensis (F.M. Bailey) Domin

Synonyms

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don (misapplied)

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don var. brisbanensis F.M. Bailey

Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don var. brisbanensis F.M. Bailey, orth. var.

Caladium glycorrhizon Fraser

Colocasia macrorrhizos (L.) Schott (misapplied)

Colocasia macrorrhizos (L.) Schott var. brisbanica F.M. Bailey

Colocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don var. brisbanica F.M. Bailey, orth. var.

Family

Araceae

Common Names

alocasia, aroid lily, cunjevoi, cunjevoi  lily, elephant ear, elephant ears, elephant's ears, native elephant ear, spoon lily

Origin

Native to the warmer coastal and sub-coastal districts of eastern Australia (i.e. in eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, north from the Illawarra region).

Naturalised Distribution

This species is naturalised in the coastal districts of south-western Western Australia. It is also naturalised in New Zealand.

Notes

Elephant ears (Alocasia brisbanensis) grows naturally as an understorey herb in rainforests and on rainforest margins in eastern Australia, where it is known as "cunjevoi". It has become popular in gardens in other parts of Australia because of its handsome foliage and ability to thrive in the shade. However, its brightly coloured fruit are poisonous to humans and its seeds are readily dispersed into bushland by birds.

Elephant ears (Alocasia brisbanensis) is regarded as a minor environmental weed in Western Australia and as a potential environmental weed in Victoria. This species is currently of concern as a weed of waterways in the south-western parts of Western Australia. It grows in drainage lines at Albany, presumably persisting and spreading from dumped garden waste.

In New Zealand, elephant ears (Alocasia brisbanensis) is an emerging weed of wetlands, riparian areas, heavily disturbed shrublands and forests, damp frost-free open areas and old pastures.

Note: Until recently, elephant ears (Alocasia brisbanensis) was confused with another very similar plant (i.e. Alocasia macrorrhizos) that is native to south-eastern Asia. Alocasia macrorrhizos has only been recorded for Australia from the Murray Islands, in the Torres Strait, where it is regarded as being native. However, it may be present in cultivation in other parts of Australia.