Amorphophallus leaf size (was growing season)

From: markdim at azstarnet.com (Mark A. Dimmitt) on 1997.09.08 at 13:22:27(1184) Julius Boos wrote: >To the many out there who have these larger species of Amorphophallus, bear in >mind that eventually they produce the largest leaf of ANY plant, yes, even >larger than the largest palm!!! Thirty feet tall, just as wide!! (Doubters, >please see pg.72 of "Aroideana,Vol 17, 1994) Do you measure championship by length or surface area? There is a palm with a leaf 20 METERS long (sorry, I don't own the book so I can't look up the genus). +More >It may be getting close to the time to begin a debate as to the ultimate goal >of the devoted Amorphophiles who have invested their time (and yes, money) to >this worthwhile project of bringing these very rare and little-known giants of >the plant world into cultivation. ... Perhaps we need to canvas the >larger botanic gardens of the world and attempt to locate one (or many) with >the correct height of greenhouse, where several of the larger specimens that >may survive to attain a "respectable" size, ... Good idea. All good collections should have a plan for their care after their owners die or lose interest or ability to care for them. Thirty feet, huh? I may be one of the first to succumb to the last criterion. Mark *************************************************************** Mark Dimmitt Tucson, Arizona USA ***************************************************************

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at classic.msn.com> on 1997.09.09 at 13:16:30(1194) ---------- Sent: Monday, September 08, 1997 9:22 AM To: ju-bo@msn.com +More Subject: RE: Amorphophallus leaf size (was growing season) >>Julius Boos wrote: >To the many out there who have these larger species of Amorphophallus, bear in >mind that eventually they produce the largest leaf of ANY plant, yes, even >larger than the largest palm!!! Thirty feet tall, just as wide!! (Doubters, >please see pg.72 of "Aroideana,Vol 17, 1994) >>Do you measure championship by length or surface area? There is a palm with a leaf 20 METERS long (sorry, I don't own the book so I can't look up the genus).<< >It may be getting close to the time to begin a debate as to the ultimate goal >of the devoted Amorphophiles who have invested their time (and yes, money) to >this worthwhile project of bringing these very rare and little-known giants of >the plant world into cultivation. ... Perhaps we need to canvas the >larger botanic gardens of the world and attempt to locate one (or many) with >the correct height of greenhouse, where several of the larger specimens that >may survive to attain a "respectable" size, ... >>Good idea. All good collections should have a plan for their care after their owners die or lose interest or ability to care for them. Thirty feet, huh? I may be one of the first to succumb to the last criterion. Mark<< Dear Mark, I see that our group is moving toward a good soloution re: the final place which can grow these wonderful giants and perhaps induce them to bloom and produce seed. Great!!! Thanks to "the Philo. Phreaque" and others who offered suggestions. Hey, keep your eyes open for the info on that palm. I will keep mine open for where I read that the larger species of Amorphophallus produced the largest leaf of any plant, including palms. I don`t know what criteria were used in judging this "contest", but it seems to me to fall into the stupid ones like "what is the most venomous snake?" ALL the major ones will do the job on you, the same as a fall from a 10 story building will kill you just as well as a fall from a 50 story one! Those are BIG leaves in any language! Good luck with your plants. Sincerely, Julius ju-bo@msn.com *************************************************************** Mark Dimmitt Tucson, Arizona USA ***************************************************************

From: Rand Nicholson <writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 1997.09.09 at 13:44:40(1195) >Hey, keep your eyes open for the info on that palm. I will keep mine open >for >where I read that the larger species of Amorphophallus produced the largest +More >leaf of any plant, including palms. I don`t know what criteria were used in >judging this "contest", but it seems to me to fall into the stupid ones like >"what is the most venomous snake?" ALL the major ones will do the job on >you, >the same as a fall from a 10 story building will kill you just as well as a >fall from a 50 story one! Those are BIG leaves in any language! >Good luck with your plants. >Sincerely, >Julius Yes, Julius: But the taller ones give you more time to enjoy the trip. Rand

From: eduardo gomes goncalves <eggon at guarany.cpd.unb.br> on 1997.09.09 at 20:56:44(1200) Dear Julius, Mark and others, The criteria used to define the largest leaf is that all of the Amorphophallus heigth can be credited to its leaf (including petiole). Palms can be very tall (even taller than any Amorphophallus) but it has a lot of leaves and most part of the heigth is because of the stem. In Amorphophallus, the leaf itself behaves like it was a whole tree. Aroids are weird plants... +More Best wishes, Eduardo. > >mind that eventually they produce the largest leaf of ANY plant, yes, even > >larger than the largest palm!!! Thirty feet tall, just as wide!! (Doubters, > >please see pg.72 of "Aroideana,Vol 17, 1994) > Hey, keep your eyes open for the info on that palm. I will keep mine open for > where I read that the larger species of Amorphophallus produced the largest > leaf of any plant, including palms. I don`t know what criteria were used in > judging this "contest", but it seems to me to fall into the stupid ones like > "what is the most venomous snake?" ALL the major ones will do the job on you,

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at classic.msn.com> on 1997.09.10 at 01:25:31(1207) ---------- Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 1997 9:44 AM To: ju-bo@msn.com +More Subject: RE: Amorphophallus leaf size (was growing season) >Hey, keep your eyes open for the info on that palm. I will keep mine open >for >where I read that the larger species of Amorphophallus produced the largest >leaf of any plant, including palms. I don`t know what criteria were used in >judging this "contest", but it seems to me to fall into the stupid ones like >"what is the most venomous snake?" ALL the major ones will do the job on >you, >the same as a fall from a 10 story building will kill you just as well as a >fall from a 50 story one! Those are BIG leaves in any language! >Good luck with your plants. >Sincerely, >Julius >>Yes, Julius: But the taller ones give you more time to enjoy the trip. Rand<< Dear Rand, Yes!! And the fall NEVER kills you, it`s that damn sudden stop!! Cheers, Julius ju-bo@msn.com

From: mood at poi.net (John Mood) on 1997.09.11 at 17:34:24(1228) For gigantic leaves, let us not forget about Alocasia robusta with leaves on one specimen I measured at Quoin Hill in Sabah, Malaysia at 263 cm. x 162 cm. (lamina) and a two meter petiole. John Mood +More >Dear Julius, Mark and others, > >The criteria used to define the largest leaf is that all of the >Amorphophallus heigth can be credited to its leaf (including petiole). >Palms can be very tall (even taller than any Amorphophallus) but it has a >lot of leaves and most part of the heigth is because of the stem. In >Amorphophallus, the leaf itself behaves like it was a whole tree. Aroids >are weird plants... > >Best wishes, > >Eduardo. > >> >mind that eventually they produce the largest leaf of ANY plant, yes, even >> >larger than the largest palm!!! Thirty feet tall, just as wide!! (Doubters, >> >please see pg.72 of "Aroideana,Vol 17, 1994) > >> Hey, keep your eyes open for the info on that palm. I will keep mine open for >> where I read that the larger species of Amorphophallus produced the largest >> leaf of any plant, including palms. I don`t know what criteria were used in >> judging this "contest", but it seems to me to fall into the stupid ones like >> "what is the most venomous snake?" ALL the major ones will do the job on you, > > >

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