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Elephant's Ear

Macaranga tanarius

Elephant's Ear is a big, leafy plant that loves warm places. Its large leaves look like elephant ears, making it fun to spot in gardens and forests!

Habitat: Tropical forests

Appearance

The Elephant's Ear has giant, heart-shaped leaves, often over a meter wide, with the stem attached to the middle. Its vibrant green leaves can have reddish undersides or veins, making it stand out in sunny clearings.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilyEuphorbiaceaeGenusMacaranga
Elephant's Ear
flowering trait badgeornamental trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgebroadleaf_tree trait badge
Elephant's Ear

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Its huge leaves can sometimes be used as natural umbrellas or even plates!

Some people use its bark and leaves to make traditional medicines.

The sap from this plant can sometimes be used to make a natural glue.

This tree is a 'pioneer,' first to sprout in clearings after disturbances.

Special abilities

Ability

Ant Home

Elephant's Ear has stem pockets that shelter ants, helping protect it from plant-eating insects. Teamwork!

Ability

Sunlight Sprinter

Elephant's Ear grows fast in sunny clearings, quickly reaching for the best sunlight before other plants can.

Measurements & details

Height
500-1500 cm
Spread
300-800 cm
Flower Size
0.1-0.3 cm
Bloom Season
Year-round
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

symbiotic with

Ant

Crematogaster dohrni

ants live in its stems, protecting it from pests.

eats

Asian Glossy Starling

Aplonis panayensis

birds enjoy its small, fleshy fruits.

eaten by

Indian Ladybird Beetle

Epilachna indica

herbivorous beetles sometimes munch on its big leaves.

Traits

Also known as

Elephant Ear PlantGiant Taro

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Elephant's Ear?

The easiest way to identify Elephant's Ear is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Elephant's Ear?

500-1500 cm

How wide does Elephant's Ear spread?

300-800 cm

How big are the flowers on Elephant's Ear?

0.1-0.3 cm

When does Elephant's Ear bloom?

Year-round

Is Elephant's Ear edible?

No

Is Elephant's Ear toxic?

Mild

What is Elephant's Ear's lifecycle?

Perennial

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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