Alocasia melo

From: mood at poi.net (John Mood) on 1997.10.05 at 05:08:47(1390) to K. Kozmin. Looking at various Alocasia pictures on the net sites, it seems that what is being called Alocasia cv."blackie", "black velvet" might be the new species recently described by Dr. Hay. This is a Bornean species and was published in the last issue of Curtis's Botanical Mag. (I believe). your comments +More John Mood

From: "Peter Boyce" <P.Boyce at lion.rbgkew.org.uk> on 1997.10.06 at 16:14:02(1396) Dear John I have just spent a couple of weeks inthe US and had a chance to see a number of these glorious Alocasia species that are being grown at present. Most of these are related to A. melo, A. scabriuscula and A. guttata, among others. All these species are characterised by the spathes generally ivory-white throughout (including the lower spathe which is more generally green), variously dotted, streaked, edged or suffused with purple. The spathe limb typically becomes very fully reflexed at the point of constriction towards the end of female anthesis. The spadices are also generally ivory throughout, with little if any development of chlorophyll in the ovary at the flowering stage. The leaves are distinctly leathery in texture, with the petiole often scabrid. Alocasia 'Black Velvet' and 'Blackie' are, I think, the same and represent an undescribed species related to, but distinct from, A, melo. Alocasia 'Elaine', A. guttatus (an as yet unpublished name) and A. 'Green Shield' are all yet to be scientifically described and all represent new species. Pete +More ---------------------------- Peter Boyce Herbarium Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond Surrey TW9 3AE U.K. Tel. + 44 - (0)181 332 5207 Fax. + 44 - (0)181 332 5298 email. p.boyce@lion.rbgkew.org.uk

From: "Peter Boyce" p.boyce at rbgkew.org.uk> on 2001.06.26 at 15:29:05(6886) Hi Steve Nice to hear from you. Alocasia 'Black Velvet' ('Blackie') now has an official identification: A. reginula For interest, herewith a list of Alocasia cvs and their official names. Alocasia 'Elaine' = A. reginae A. 'Black Velvet' = A. reginula A. 'Blackie' = A. reginula A. 'Hana' = A. reversa A. 'Green Shield' = A. clypeolata A. 'Green Cuprea' = A. clypeolata A. 'Samar Lance' = A. scalprum A. 'Quilted Dreams' = A. sinuata A. 'Bullata' = A. sinuata Best wishes Pete +More ---------------------------- Peter Boyce Herbarium Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE Tel. (+44) (0)20 8 332 5207 fax. (+44) (0)20 8 332 5278 email: p.boyce@rbgkew.org.uk (work) boyce@pothos.demon.co.uk (home)

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