Fw: Miss Aroid Beauty Contest

From: "julius boos" ju-bo at msn.com> on 2002.02.02 at 16:25:26(8139) Dear Ron and others, Forgive me as I have NOT been following this train of letters debating the merits as reguards the beauty of one Aroid against another, but would like to cast my humble vote for the Urospatha sp. pictured on the front cover of Aroideana Vol.1, No. 3 as being 'number 1' in my book---put color to this (purple maculations on a light yellow within the spirally twisted spathe, a bronze exterior) and add HUGE narrowly sagittate leaves, their petioles with purple snake-like maculations!!. I`d also vote for the bloom on the cover of Aroideana Vol. 2, No. 4, that of Pseudohydrosme gabunensis. This can be viewed in color in the photo section in the back of TGOA. Another aroid that is hard to beat for it`s sheer elegance, but will get no votes because of it`s rarity is Anaphyllopsis americana, a blooming juvinile plant, far from its best, is pictured on the cover of Aroideana Vol. 10, No. 2, and a more mature plant is pictured on Pg. 14 of Aroideana Vol. 20. I could go on discussing the sheer simple beauty of a well-grown but minature Callopsis volkensii in bloom, the egg-yolk yellow spadix contrasting so well with the virginal white spathe, and many others like this, but in a final word is there a really UGLY Ariod?? With the premise that 'beauty lies in the eye of the beholder', I think not!! I do agree with Ron (below) on the scent of Spathiphyllums, one species in particular, S. cannifolium produces a mesmerizing scent that haunts me to this day, I first experienced it when about 8 years of age while swimming in a wild jungle river pool in the Valencia river valley in my homeland of Trinidad, far too young to even recognise arousal or sensuality, but instantly recognising that special 'something', a scent I could then only file into my 'memory banks for retrevial at a better time/ age! It is with me today as I write, 48 years or so later. Julius Boos +More ju-bo@msn.com >>Really ! Spathiphyllum are much too graceful & demeure to allow themselves to be compared in mere Beauty with painted gaudies, Peace Lilies are "Zen", Spirit of Tao, with gentle grace, style, PURITY, subtlety, simply exquisite & of course they have scent which has often been described by sensual romantics as being like that of the most feminine of women. My Plants just do not enter Beauty Contests though I believe there may some "hooker" variegsates elsewhere who will crave notoriety. No this Competition seems to be for spectacular Aroid Royalty like Dany's Alocasia, (A. sanderiana, A. watsoniana), Franks brilliant Aglaonema, dramatic Anthurium & not forgetting Philodendron spiritu sancti & better lke P. joepiii but really their flowers are often rather crude & obvious.. I would think that to some Diptera & erotically hyper-orientated humans might regard Amoprphophallus as the most beautiful. If you want my choice for a Miss Other Aroid for Spaths I like S. Cali, sometimes called S. Mini & S. "clevelandii" as in Birdsey "Cultivated Aroids" & the humble "true" S. wallissii best. I still need these "common" forms if ANYBODY might guide me to sources? How abour ARISAEMA? Can we REALLY call it a a MISS Aroid Beauty Contest. Should it be MS Aroid for plant hermaphrodites? How about "LOVELIEST AROID CONTEST" then I could enter my REALLY best Peace Lilies? Cheerfully Ron<< ----- Original Message ----- To: "Multiple recipients of list AROID-L" Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 3:26 AM Subject: Re: Miss Aroid Beauty Contest In a message dated Mon, 28 Jan 2002 2:13:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, Durightmm@aol.com writes: > Who will be Miss Anthurium, Miss Philodendron and Miss General Aroid.??? Joe What? No Miss Spathiphyllum? Oops...maybe I shouldn't have said anything....

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