Alocasia odora (giant upright elephant ear)

It is a flowering plant native to East and Southeast Asia. In Manipur, the local name is Hoomu. Moreover, it can be used as medicine for the treatment of the common cold in North Vietnam. The plant is actually inedible when raw because of needle-shaped raphides (calcium oxalate crystals) in the plant cells. In Japan, there are several cases of food poisoning by accidental consumption.

This plant grows to about 0.5-1.6 m in height, with rhizomes of about 4-10 m in height and 3-5 cm in width. The leaves are big and blade-shaped, ovate, light green with a cordate base. The petioles are 0.3-1.0 m long, with the lower parts clasped around the stem. From its physical features and being a member of the genus Alocasia, it is related to Colocasia esculenta a.k.a Taro.