Alocasia, elephants ear leaves

When caving in Merapoh, Pahang in July 2013, we found a 'hidden garden'. There were some huge keladi leaves. They made us look like smurfs.

These leaves would make a good umbrella or perhaps a picnic table. Luckily the Indians don't use them instead of banana leaves as plates!

These leaves are Alocasia, known in Malaysia as keladi or elephants ear. They are also known as Colocasia. Keladi are members of the Araceae family. They are herbaceous monocots.

 

As the area was undisturbed by people or large animals, these leaves had grown to a great size.