Re: What is it?

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

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