Request from Deni Bown

From: Don Burns donburns at macconnect.com> on 1999.10.22 at 03:05:36(3779) Aroiders, Most of you are aware that Deni Bown is writing a new book on our favorite plant family. Deni, who is not on Aroid-L, has asked for a bit of final assistance in obtaining answers to some questions, all of which are in her message below. If you can help her she will be very appreciative. Certainly some of the questions she is asking may create some debate on the list, and that of course is welcome. But, in the end someone needs to contact her via the means she mentions. And certainly anyone may do so if they wish. See Deni's message below. Don +More ------------- Dear colleague, fellow aroider, aroid nut.... Please excuse this urgent appeal. I am a desperate woman!! By the time the Aroid Conference took place in August, I had already delivered the manuscript of the revised edition of Aroids - Plants of the Arum Family to Timber Press for publication in autumn/fall 2000. As you can imagine, the timing was most unfortunate as I knew the Conference would throw up new information and queries. Currently I am going through the proofs and to my surprise the Editor has just agreed that I can make last-minute additions. I am therefore writing to ask if you would help me bring the revised edition as up-to-date as possible by sending information about any VERY RECENT DISCOVERIES, TAXONOMIC CHANGES etc. or anything else you consider of crucial importance for inclusion. It may be that I might already have included it - your information will help me check. I would also be very grateful for further information on the following notes I made (in the dark!) during the Conference. References, or better still, copies of papers by email attachment, fax (0044 1362 694929) or snailmail to Yaxham Park, Yaxham, Norfolk NR19 1RD, UK, would be much appreciated. Any information sent without references will be credited PERS. COMM., OK? I know you may be too busy, but please try to help if you can. Your contribution will help inspire the next generation of aroiders! Many many thanks and kind regards, Deni Bown Acorus americanus - I have a note that this species is possibly endemic. Is this what used to be known as var. americanus? If so, when was the name changed, and have other varieties been changed too? (All the original information about Acorus is retained in the revised edition, with latest taxonomic changes added.) Aglaonema fumeum - more info please. Alocasia nebula/'Elaine' - and any other new species with ornamental potential - descriptions please Anthurium cut flower industry - any statistics on value worldwide or country by country. Anthurium splendidum - now A. luxurians? Dieffenbachia berries are edible - is this true? Gearum brasiliense - my note says it grows in hyperseasonal savannah. Is this correct, and if so, what is this? Gymnostachys - latest thinking - any further developments? Hapaline benthamiana - more info please. Homalomena - more info. on H. humilis, H. minutissima, H. occulta. Is 80% new species correct? Ornamental aroids - what's new and best? I need more detailed information than is available on websites, i.e. full descriptions of habit, foliage, inflorescences - colour, texture and most important, dimensions - and USP. There is a new appendix of Cultivated Aroids. It was put together very quickly as a last-minute addition and some of the information on latest cvs, hybrids etc. is very sketchy. Some information I was promised (by breeders) has never been sent, so I can't include some of the taxa on their websites. Pedicellarum - latest thinking? Peltandra virginica - details of association with Elachiptera formosa. Also info on butterfly + Montrichardia and moth + Acorus. I have nothing on this and it is VERY interesting. On another aspect - the variegated form - type of variegation? Pothos macrophyllos - I have a note that this is included in P. gigantipes. ?? Pseudodracontium - sunk into Amorphophallus? When and by whom? Rhaphidophora - is revision finished? What should I make sure to include? R. angustata - largest leaves in genus - how big? Schismatoglottis patentinervia, S. petri - descriptions please. Thank you, Deni

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