Unknown Houseplant

This is a houseplant at a restaurant, one of many growing outside. Some had huge leaves but were in a position where I couldn't photograph it well.

Any ideas?

 

Thanks, Marley, it does look like it ... completely different looking to my Alocasia polly.

 

I might be wrong here LoL but most Alocasias (Amazonicas like Polly) are tropical ie needing winter warmth of about 13c upwards whereas Colocasias such as the one in your pic can be classed as sub tropical and will take temps down to near freezing. Normally they are kept inside and dry out for the winter but where you are they are probably OK outside all year round.

 

I have a picture of "Taro" Colocasia Antiquorum, it looks very similar.
I know there are people that buy this one in oriental food shops for growing.

 

Hi, strongy. These plants are in the mountains where we went today and they do get frost up there but I think are safe.

Evening, pete ... do you mean buy in Oriental shops for eating purposes?

This was probably the smallest of perhaps three or four there ... guess it would be noticed if I nicked one ... and wouldn't be very clever since we go to this place from time to time ... best I ask nicely if I can have one? :D

 

They buy them to grow, but they are sold as a veg for eating.

 

I'm going to leave the A polly outside through the winter so time will tell if it survives! I still say they were flowers on it as the pods are still there and the new leaves are coming up jut as new leaves, not in a pod-like thing.

 

Mine flowered also LOL.

 

Sorry, pete, I thought you were saying they weren't flowers ...

 

When did I say that? :D

 

I don't know .. in the thread of Other Plants. Alocasia polly perhaps .. I'd have to look back ..

 

LoL, as they are grown for the houseplant trade they would normally be kept at house temperature ie 17/23c (roughly) and be in leaf all year round, outside it will go dormant below about 8c like the hardier Colocaisas and below that and in wet compost it may rot. They also prefer rain water but I suspect you know all this.

 

Hi, strongy ... no, I don't know all these things as it's my first attempt with them. Rain water ... pray tell what that is ???? They don't stand a hope in hell with me then. :D

pete, here ...

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000368;p=1

As these things look plastic like I thuught you meant they were new leaves. I also didn't see TO's last response that they do flower.