Identify this Amorph

From: "Adao Pereira" miguelporto at mail.telepac.pt> on 2000.09.06 at 02:06:17(5345) Hello to all! A while ago I received a big tuber (20 cm across) of an Amorphophallus which was supposed to be one A. paeoniifolius. But finally the leaf came up and the petiole is totally smooth! Now, I don't know what species could it be. I was told that perhaps A. konjac, but in all the pictures I've seen of A. konjac, the petiole is very different... it's never green. You can see the photos of the plant at http://planeta.clix.pt/welwitschia/amorph another big difference between this plant and the true Amorph. paeoniifolius (I have this one, too so I can compare easly) is the size of the leaflets: while those of paeoniifolius don't reach 10 cm in length, those of the unidentified Amorph are about 20 cm long!! Much bigger!! And the two plants are about the same size, so this difference must be in the species. Well... anyway, I would appreciate very much any help! BTW, thanks for the tips about how to germinate Anthuriums! Thanks! Miguel

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" hetter at worldonline.nl> on 2000.09.07 at 14:26:58(5352) Miguel, The size of the leaflets of yuor plant is not a relevant distinction in paeoniifolius, of which this size varies considerably. I think your plant IS paeoniifolius after all. You ran into one of the few clones/cultivars that through the long ages of domestication of this species, has developed smooth petioles. In olden days, such forms were identified as "var. hortensis" and should represent clones with a lower amount of irritating oxalates in the tuber, making it more easy to refine for food production. The colour of the petiole is also not a relevant character, although, also in the past, the green colour was part of the identifiers of "var. hortensis'. However, there are numerous examples of green petioles with a very rough surface. Cheers, Wilbert +More ----- Original Message ----- To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L Sent: woensdag 6 september 2000 4:06 Subject: Identify this Amorph > Hello to all! > > A while ago I received a big tuber (20 cm across) of an Amorphophallus which > was supposed to be one A. paeoniifolius. But finally the leaf came up and > the petiole is totally smooth! Now, I don't know what species could it be. I > was told that perhaps A. konjac, but in all the pictures I've seen of A. > konjac, the petiole is very different... it's never green. > You can see the photos of the plant at > http://planeta.clix.pt/welwitschia/amorph > > another big difference between this plant and the true Amorph. paeoniifolius > (I have this one, too so I can compare easly) is the size of the leaflets: > while those of paeoniifolius don't reach 10 cm in length, those of the > unidentified Amorph are about 20 cm long!! Much bigger!! And the two plants > are about the same size, so this difference must be in the species. > > Well... anyway, I would appreciate very much any help! > > BTW, thanks for the tips about how to germinate Anthuriums! > Thanks! > Miguel > > >

From: GeoffAroid at aol.com on 2000.09.07 at 14:27:27(5354) Further to Miguel's query about the Amorph tuber I should add that these tubers (I sent it to Miguel) are found in London, only in Sri Lankan (= Ceylon) grocers, where they are sold for food. I had assumed they were A. paeoniifolius but the petioles are smooth. The tubers do not look like any tuber of A. konjac that I have grown being much rougher on the upper surface. They can reach huge size, I have seen some for sale about 12-14ins across. I guess this one is over to Wilbert for his views. Regards to all, Geoffrey Kibby +More London

From: "Adao Pereira" miguelporto at mail.telepac.pt> on 2000.09.08 at 03:15:11(5375) Hello! Ok, everything that was said here makes sense, the tuber was bought by Geoffrey in a food store (thanks very much, Geoffrey!), so, it should be a variety used for food, as Wilbert says! Thanks, the mistery is gone! Good growing! Miguel

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