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Colocasia esculenta 'Tropical Storm'
| Family Name: | Araceae |
Colocasia esculenta 'Tropical Storm' is an ornamental cultivar of Elephant's Ear with attractive dark purple to black foliage with a creamy white center. It is more compact than other cultivars.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant, Aquatic & Hydrophyte (Waterside / Marginal) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 45 cm to 60 cm |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 45 cm to 60 cm |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous plant forming clumps up to 0.6 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Dark purple to nearly black, heart-shaped leaves have a large creamy white center (up to 20 cm long). |
| Flowers | The spathe and spadix inflorescence is not particularly ornamental. |
| Taxonomy | This cultivar was produced by crossing Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic' with Colocasia esculenta 'Nancy's Revenge'. It is protected by plant patent number 28567. |
| Cultivation | This cultivar grows best in rich, organic soil that is kept consistently moist and fertilised regularly. It can be grown along ponds and in standing water up to 15 cm deep. |
| Etymology | The genus Colocasia refers to the Lotus root in Greek, while the specific epithet esculenta means edible. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Pond / Lake / River, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Water Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Does not Drain Site) |
| Planting Remarks | When the soil drys out, the foliage is likely to be damaged. |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Purple, Black, Cream / Off-White |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Cordate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 ) |
| Typical Foliar Size | 20 cm |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|---|
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34376 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8789 |
| 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. |
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