would like to see the plant.... Send me a private e-mail and I will be
happy to forward the pictures to you... with no obligation to bid...
**********************************
Attached are photos of X. plowmanii. There are two of these plants that
are being placed at auction. If you receive more than one copy of this
message and the attachments, I apologize. I am sending this to Aroid-L,
the Bulbous Aroid List and to my private mailing list to get the widest
coverage. If you do not receive the attachments, e-mail me privately and I
will be glad to forward them to you individually.
X. plowmanii is described in detail in Aroideana, Vol. 8, No. 4 starting on
page 112. It was collected February 8, 1980 by Dr. Tim Plowman in the
southern part of Para, Brazil. Material was forwarded to Josef Bogner at
the Munich Botanical Garden who determined that it was a new species. He
described it and published it in Aroideana. If you do not have a copy of
this issue... It is available from the IAS and would be well worth the
investment.
The two plants that are offered were asexually propagated and grown by Mr.
John Banta from the original type plant, Plowman #8460. This is the Type
Plant being offered. John does not have additional plants available so
please do not contact him.
The plant is one of the prettiest Xanthosomas that I have ever seen.
First, it is villous (I had to look it up.... means hairy). The
pubescence covers the entire plant, both leaves and petioles. Second, it
is pedate. This is the only known Xanthosoma species that has both of
these characteristics. Third, it is variegated. The creamy white portion
spreads from the midvein and extends just a little way into the leaf...
Giving this plant the most unusual appearance of any Aroid that I have
seen. Herr Bogner states that "There are a few Xanthosoma species known
with hairy leaves, but these all have entire leaf-blades" X. plowmanii is
the only one that is both pedate and villous.... and to top it off...
Variegation!!! The petiole is 18-40 cm long. Leaf blade is 20-23 cm in
diameter in outline with 5 leaflets. It could live its entire life in a
four inch pot or certainly no more than a six inch pot... The plants being
offered have not achieved the fourth and fifth leaf segments but they
probably will this coming summer..
Cultivation of this plant is, according to Herr Bogner... "Xanthosoma
plowmanii requires a resting period, where the tubers should be left in the
dry soil. When they start to grow again, they can be replanted in fresh
soil and watering must be started slowly. During the growing period the
plant likes a warm (20-25 C) and shady environment; it is best grown in a
'stove' house. We use a soil mixture of rough peat, spaghnum moss, sharp
quartz sand, and a little acid loam."
The Auction will work this way... Send me your
bid. This will put you on the bidding list. As the bid increases, I will
notify those that are on the bidding list of the latest and highest bid.
This will be done privately and not on any 'List'. If you send a bid to
either of the lists by hitting the "Reply" button, the Moderators will
either trash it or I will ignore it. Please send your bid to me privately.
Bidding will start at $35. and will end on November 1, 2001. Both plants
will go for the highest bid. In other words, if you are the second highest
bidder on November 1st, you will have the opportunity to increase your bid
to obtain the second plant. If you do not wish to do so, then, the third
highest bidder will have the opportunity to purchase the second plant. If
no one wishes to increase their bid then the plant will be returned to Mr.
Banta's collection.
The plants are just about ready to enter their resting period, mentioned
above, or dormancy. They will be shipped with enough bubble wrap to
protect them. Or, I can maintain the plant over winter and ship in the
spring. That will be the winning bidders choice.
BTW, I have a couple additional photos that are not attached. I can send
them to individuals that would like to see... I did not want to clog the
lists...
May I have your bid at .... plantnut@macconnect.com ... Or if you have
any questions, I will try to answer them.... Thank you.
Dewey
Your source for Tropical Araceae
http://members.macconnect.com/users/p/plantnut/
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