Alocasia brisbanensis
Alocasia brisbanensis, commonly known as cunjevoi[lower-alpha 1] 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]
| Cunjevoi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 |
| Binomial name | |
| Alocasia brisbanensis | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Description
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]
Alocasia brisbanensis (cunjevoi) growing at Dorrigo National Park, Australia
References
- "Species profile—Alocasia brisbanensis". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- "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.
- "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. 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.
See also
External links
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