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Caladium praetermissum Bogner & Hett.
Family Name: | Araceae |
Synonyms: | Alocasia Hilo Beauty |
Common Name: | Hilo Beauty Elephant Ear |
Caladium praetermissum or Hilo Beauty Elephant Ear is an herb that reaches to 1 m tall. The large green leaves are marked with irregular white, cream to light green spots. Hilo Beauty Elephant Ear can be grown as a houseplant, outdoors or in a large terrarium tank.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
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Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Maximum Height | 1 |
Biogeography
Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
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Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
Growth Form | It is a herbaceous plant which grows to about 1 m tall with big leaves. |
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Foliage | Its leaves are pale to medium green, marked with irregular creamy to yellowish green spots. |
Flowers | Its spadix is shorter than the spathe, about 10 cm long, cream in colour. |
Others - Plant Morphology | It has underground rhizomes measuring to 18 cm long. |
Taxonomy | This species has been misidentified by the horticultural trade as Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty'. The correct name should be Caladium praetermissum. |
Cultivation | It prefers rich moist soil with good drainage. Overwatering may cause the rhizomes to rot. |
Landscaping Features
Landscaping | Caladium praetermissum can be planted in containers and terrariums |
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Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
Landscape Uses | Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Parks & Gardens, Container Planting |
Usage Hazard - Cons | Irritant - Sap |
Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
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Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Propagation Method | Division |
Foliar
Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
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Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Yellow / Golden, Cream / Off-White |
Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
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Image Repository
Others
Master ID | 339 |
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Species ID | 1635 |
Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |