‘Ape (Elephant’s Ear)

‘Ape bears such a striking resemblance to kalo, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the two species apart. The distinguishing feature between Alocasia species vs. Colocasia species (kalo) is variation in the leaves. Kalo leaves point down toward the Earth, whereas ‘ape leaves point towards the sky. The base of the ‘ape leaves are also pointed like an arrowhead, whereas the kalo leaves are rounded like a heart.

There is a chemical inside of ‘ape and kalo called calcium oxalate that can cause irritation to anyone eating them raw / undercooked. ‘Ape can be eaten and prepped similarly to kalo, however it must be cooked for a longer period of time before it is safe to consume.