What is it?

From: Gary Meltzer <kathann1 at tsoft.com> on 1998.09.03 at 20:35:19(2570) I have a purple stemmed "taro" that I collected from a creek in Santa Cruz, CA, about 4 months ago. The owner of the property was uncertain of the origin of these plants or of their names. They were growing in about 12"-24" of slow moving water and had become rather invasive; an annual event I understand. At home, I potted them in 12" pots were they grew within 6 weeks to about 4'-5' high and produced a goldish inflorescence that was quite beautiful. Every 4 days or so, another flower would emerge from just above the origin of the preceding flower's source. Of the four plants that are potted, three of them produced 4 flowers in this way. At this time, it looks like two of them have set seed as they are not wilting and beginning to swell. If I send a photo(s) of these, will someone identify them for me? If the seeds do develope, I can send them to Aroidiana for distribution. Thank you, Gary

From: alistair_hay_at_po-sydney at rbgsyd.gov.au on 1998.09.04 at 04:18:23(2571) Sounds like Colocasia esculenta `Fontanesii' Alistair Hay +More ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: What is it? Author: at mailgate Date: 9/3/98 3:37 PM I have a purple stemmed "taro" that I collected from a creek in Santa Cruz, CA, about 4 months ago. The owner of the property was uncertain of the origin of these plants or of their names. They were growing in about 12"-24" of slow moving water and had become rather invasive; an annual event I understand. At home, I potted them in 12" pots were they grew within 6 weeks to about 4'-5' high and produced a goldish inflorescence that was quite beautiful. Every 4 days or so, another flower would emerge from just above the origin of the preceding flower's source. Of the four plants that are potted, three of them produced 4 flowers in this way. At this time, it looks like two of them have set seed as they are not wilting and beginning to swell. If I send a photo(s) of these, will someone identify them for me? If the seeds do develope, I can send them to Aroidiana for distribution. Thank you, Gary

From: Clarence Hester <hesterc at leguin.acpub.duke.edu> on 1998.09.04 at 14:20:36(2572) Gary Meltzer wrote: > > I have a purple stemmed "taro" that I collected from a creek in Santa Cruz, they grew +More > within 6 weeks to about 4'-5' high and produced a goldish inflorescence > that was quite beautiful. Every 4 days or so, another flower would emerge > from just above the origin of the preceding flower's source. Gary, Did you notice a fragrance sort of like baked sweet potatoes or mangos, especially at certain times of the day? If you didn't notice, check it out next time they bloom. I agree with the previous poster that this is probably Colocaisa esculenta fontanesii (spelling is probably off). Clarence

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 1998.09.06 at 17:04:53(2578) >>I have a purple stemmed "taro" that I collected from a creek in Santa Cruz, CA, about 4 months ago. The owner of the property was uncertain of the origin of these plants or of their names. They were growing in about 12"-24" of slow moving water and had become rather invasive; an annual event I understand. At home, I potted them in 12" pots were they grew within 6 weeks to about 4'-5' high and produced a goldish inflorescence that was quite beautiful. Every 4 days or so, another flower would emerge from just above the origin of the preceding flower's source. Of the four plants that are potted, three of them produced 4 flowers in this way. At this time, it looks like two of them have set seed as they are not wilting and beginning to swell. If I send a photo(s) of these, will someone identify them for me? If the seeds do develope, I can send them to Aroidiana for distribution. Thank +More you, Gary<< Dear Gary, I do not know exactaly which cultivar/species of Colocasia the plant you collected is, but I have seen it around here in S. Florida. There was a huge stand of it at the pond on the S.W. cor. of the Kravis Center here in W.P.B. which was removed about two years ago, and the pond re-planted; it flowered profusely, and must have seeded, as it seems to pop up in creeks , ponds, etc., so I believe the fruit it prob. is spread by birds. Just last week I examined another flowering cultivar with all-green laeves, but the upper portion of the spathes was a rich gold/yellow. There was several not-normal bodies among the ovaries on the lower part of the spadix, and the upper section was infertile. These plants pop up at the bases of shrubs/trees from nurseries brought into and planted at homes in W.P.B and areas around us. homes, and grow as a weed of cultivation in the fields. Both of the forms mentioned have lots of stolons by which the spread rapidly. Hope this is of help. Anyone else has any info.?? On another note, some time ago we had a discussion on native names of edible aroids, and I reported on "bok ha" (or "bak ha") which I believed was a species of Alocasia. I recently ran into it again, and can report that it is a Viet Nam word, and is being sold at an oriental grocery near my home. The item consists of the cut stems (no leaf blades) of an Alocasia sp., I believe it may be the plant sold horticulturaly as "Chinese taro". Sincerely, Julius ju-bo@msn.com

From: Tom and Ann Kline TomAnnKline at worldnet.att.net> on 2001.05.18 at 14:33:16(6504) Hi everybody, I just received a 'pup' of a 'pup' from a plant Alocasia atrovirens discarded when they dismantled the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. a few years ago prior to the rebuilding the old building. A quick check of my primary source of information, The New Royal Horitcultural Society 'Dictionary of Gardening' doesn't list it either in the plant w/descriptions or the extra listing of plants and synomyms. The plant is still a pup with rather small sagittate leaves partially splotched and edged with a creamy-yellow. I understand that parent plant had huge leaves. According to Stearns 'Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners' 'atro' means dark, and these juvenile leave are really quite dark green. I would appreciate any information. Ann E. Kline +More Falls Church, Va

From: "Dany Hervelle" bs246466 at skynet.be> on 2001.05.20 at 03:21:35(6524) Hello to all For me your plant is a xanthosoma (xanthosoma atrovirens),this species have a variety with white lign in the leaves (i think xan.atrovirens albo lineatum) +More Dany Hervelle

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