Is this not Elephant Ear? Thats what I was told it was. I inherited it so I have no clue. I would like to know hot to get the plant to stand upright more. I am trying to use a ring right now, (kind of like a tomato basket) but not sure if that will damage the stalk.
Re: All about an Elephant Ear (Colocasia Esculentum) That is Philodendron bipinnatifidum. Certainly, some people call it an "Elephant Ear" but there are around 3000 to 4000 other plants that also get that common name. Your plant is a member of Philodendron section Meconostigma and grows as a free standing "tree form" although it also will climb high into the trees along the truck of a host tree as an epiphyte. The typical plants known as "Elephant Ears" are more commonly Colocasia esculenta, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, and Alocasia species such as Alocasia odora. But plants in the genera Caladium, Philodendron, Colocasia, Anthurium, Monstera and Xanthosoma also often receive this common name. I don't know about you, but I have a great deal of difficulty with a common name that can be so freely applied to several thousand plants. If that happens, how will anyone ever know what plant you are talking about if you just say "Elephant Ear"? Perhaps these two pages will explain better: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Elephant Ear.html http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Colocasia esculenta large pc.html
