Alocasia chaii
Alocasia Chaii
Morphology
About
Alocasia chaii is a compact, self-heading aroid species naturally found in the wet tropical forests of Borneo, specifically Sarawak. It thrives terrestrially or lithophytically on rainforest floors, rocky slopes, or limestone outcrops, preferring deep humus, high humidity, and filtered light. This species forms a basal corm from which erect, slightly arching petioles, deep maroon to purple in color, emerge. Its distinctive leaves are thick, heavily bullate, and strongly textured, ranging from narrowly ovate to lanceolate with pronounced central and lateral veins. The upper surface is a glossy dark green, contrasting with the deep maroon to purple undersides, giving the plant a rugged, sculptural, and jewel-like appearance.
Climate Profile
Market Analysis & Price Guide
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How prices are calculated: The AA Price uses verified eBay UK completed auction data — we take the trimmed mean (removing the top and bottom 20% of prices) to produce a fair-value guide that excludes outlier sales. When recent auction data is unavailable, the AA Price falls back to the current UK retail average from tracked stockists. Retail prices are scraped from active UK plant shop listings and reflect what you would pay buying directly from a retailer today. All prices are in GBP and updated automatically.
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A Rather Compact Character
Right then, *Alocasia chaii*. Not a cuppa, though one often yearns for a proper brew whilst slogging through the Bornean undergrowth! This splendidly compact, self-heading aroid, formally described by the venerable P.C. Boyce, is a true Bornean marvel from Sarawak. We found it thriving either terrestrially or lithophytically on limestone outcrops, preferring deep humus and filtered light – rather sensible of it. Its deep maroon petioles support leaves that are, quite frankly, a marvel: thick, heavily bullate, and a glossy dark green above, contrasting rather strikingly with the deep maroon undersides. A rugged, jewel-like thing. Almost makes one forget the perpetual drizzle back home.