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Morphology
Alocasia, despite their very typical morphology can have multiple variations in a single species. Certain features or vegetative parts of some Alocasia species are distinct enough that it can be used to distinguish species from one another. A single look at the signature peltate and shield-like leaves of A. clypeolata; bat-shaped leaves of A. nycteris; dark and velvety leaves of A. micholitziana; striped or zebra-like petioles of A. zebrina; pubescent petioles of A. maquilingensis, and many others can easily help you identify them. Some obscure ones however, like the natural variations of A. heterophylla & A. boyceana, and A. scalprum & A. sinuata can be difficult to distinguish from one another unless you take a closer look of their reproductive or floral structure.
Variability
The degree of variation or polymorphism in leaf shapes, color, or overall appearance can vary a lot depending on the species. This is also a reflection of how difficult a species is to identify.
Alocasia clypeolata
A. clypeolata is one of the most easily distinguished species because of its simple leaf structure that is also well-known in cultivation. Despite its widespread distribution in Greater Mindanao, it is able to maintain its signature or typical leaf appearance with slight differences in sinus depth, vein to lamina coloration/contrast, sharpness, width to length ratio, and etc. Leaf size and coloration can be influenced by the environment the plant is in.
Light and dark juvenile leaf
Image: @so0tie (instagram)
Plain dark-leafed juvenile grown in shade.
Image: PARC
A circular juvenile leaf.
Image: PARC
A one-time long leaf mutation of a juvenile specimen.
Image: PARC
A dark-leafed wild specimen on limestone.
Image: Mark Gregory Rule
A typical A. clypeolata in situ, near a stream.
Image: Edd Sohail
A leaf of a mature specimen with a deep sinus.
Image: PARC
A mature specimen with a deep sinus.
Image: @alocasia_man (instagram)
A mature long-leafed specimen.
Image: Jardinerong Sunog
A mature round-leafed specimen.
Image: PARC
A mature specimen with 6 primary veins.
Image: PARC
An irregular leaf shape.
Image: PARC
A. clypeolata can also have slightly different inflorescence structures, and colors (usually in the appendix part).
white appendix
Image: @plantsascha (instagram)
white appendix
Image: PARC
yellow appendix
Image: Mark Gregory Rule
yellow appendix
Image: @acoupleof_plants (instagram)
light pink appendix
Image: PARC
reddish-pink appendix
Image: PARC
Alocasia micholitziana
A. micholitziana is easily distinguished by its velvety leaves. Like A. clypeolata, this species is also well-known in cultivation. Unlike A. clypeolata however in terms of variability, A. micholitziana is more diverse in the wild. Leaf colors can come in different shades of green; the veins can either be white or green; petiole also varies in plain green, striped in red or black, and sometimes plain black. Their sagittate velvety leaves is the main distinguishing trait.
The most commonly cultivated form of the species.
Image: Mihai Costea
A specimen with interprimary veins.
Image: Steven Charles Gerios
A specimen with a green midrib.
Image: Claire Acero
Plain-leafed wild specimen.
Image: P.B. Pelser & J.F. Barcelona
A diamond-shaped leaf.
Image: Akiro Kitaro Mamiya
A really dark-leafed specimen with long posteriors
Image: Jardinerong Sunog
plain green petioles of the most cultivated form
Image: Pinky Sinoy
petiole with diffused markings
Image: @chetoh.md (instagram)
striped petioles
Image: Unknown
yellowish-orange petioles with red markings
Image: P.B. Pelser & J.F. Barcelona
green petiole with minimal black stripes
Image: Aris Reginaldo
black-petioled specimen
Image: Joseph Dokines
Although it is a good thing that A. micholitziana may be easily distinguished by their velvety leaves, the inflorescence structure may differ drastically. What we have here are 3 distinct examples: (A) the commonly cultivated form known as "Green Velvet" or "Maxkowskii", (B) A specimen from Nueva Ecija, and (C) a specimen from Benguet.
Specimen A has a noticeably thick appendix compared to the other two. A closer look at the female zone of the three specimens show that A and B have a long style, while C seems to have a sessile stigma (short style). Specimen A has a light green ovary, while B and C is whitish. Specimen A and B have light green stigmas, while C's is vibrantly yellow. Lastly, a comparison of B and C's sterile interstice shows that B has cleanly polygonal neuter organs, while C has an irregular jigsaw-like pattern.
A1 (commonly cultivated form)
A1 (commonly cultivated form)
Image: D. L. Nickrent
female zone
female zone
A2 (commonly cultivated form)
A2 (commonly cultivated form)
Image: D. L. Nickrent
B1 (Nueva Ecija)
B1 (Nueva Ecija)
Image: Leonardo Udasco
sterile interstice (above) & female zone (below)
sterile interstice (above) & female zone (below)
B2 (Nueva Ecija)
B2 (Nueva Ecija)
Image: Leonardo Udasco
C1 (Benguet, Baguio)
C1 (Benguet, Baguio)
Image: Ron Ace Cordoviz
sterile interstice (above) & female zone (below)
sterile interstice (above) & female zone (below)
C2 (Benguet, Baguio)
C2 (Benguet, Baguio)
Image: Ron Ace Cordoviz
Alocasia zebrina
As its name suggests, A. zebrina is certainly well-distinguished by their strongly-marked petioles. Though known by many names because of its variability, comparisons of their overall morphology suggests that they are just segregate variations of a single species.
The type form
Image: Mc Andrew Pranada
A. wenzelii (synonym)
Image: Leonardo L. Co
'White Vein'
Image: Ayk Albano
'Tigrina Superba'
Image: Unknown
'Maximiliana'
Image: @alocasia_man (instagram)
'Reticulata'
Image: Christian Dave Saromines
Petiole appearance is also variable in this species.
The zebra-like petioles of the type form
Image: P.B. Pelser & J.F. Barcelona
Petioles of Wenzel's zebrina (syn. A. wenzelii)
Image: Derek Cabactulan
More mature petioles of syn. A. wenzelii
Image: Elgie Goyonan
Dark petioles of 'Tigrina Superba'
Image: Mihai Costea
Petioles of 'Tigrina Superba'
Image: PARC
A fully black petiole of 'Tigrina Superba' (one leaf mutation)
Image: PARC
Petioles of 'White Vein'
Image: Ron Ace Cordoviz
Petioles of 'White Vein'
Image: Dubbyz Anastacia
Reddish marks of 'Maximiliana'
Image: @alocasia_man (instagram)
'Reticulata' with green petioles
Image: Ma Mu
'Reticulata' petioles
Image: CK Lim
'Reticulata' petioles
Image: Brynne Mejares
Morphological Trends in the Genus
Inflorescence
It is already a stable morphological trait for all Alocasia spadices to have 4 major zones (see 1st photo below, from bottom to top): B=Female Zone, C=Sterile Interstice, D=Male Zone, and E=Appendix. Occasionally, a Stipe (A) can also be visible below the Female Zone. Depending on the species or even slight variations within a species, these zones can vary in ratio or proportions. It is generally stable, and can be a reliable basis for identification.
Side view of an Alocasia scalprum spadix (front facing left/ spathe opens at left side).
Image: PARC
A. cucullata
A. cucullata
Image: John John (fb)
A. nycteris
A. nycteris
Image: PARC
A. cuprea
A. cuprea
Image: u/elizaeffect (reddit)
A. brancifolia
A. brancifolia
Image: David Scherberich
A. vietnamensis
A. vietnamensis
Image: Willdenowia
It seems that darker variations of a species or other species within a group tend to have an upper limb of the spathe with a dark-purple color; tho it also occasionally happens in the lower limb too. This has been observed in the clades/groups: Longiloba, Scabriuscula, Odora, Macrorrhizos, Princeps, Xenophya, and etc.
Longiloba Group
A. longiloba 'watsoniana'
Longiloba Group
A. longiloba 'watsoniana'
Image: CK Lim
Scabriuscula Group
A. infernalis
Scabriuscula Group
A. infernalis
Image: AI AIquizalas
Odora Group
A. atropurpurea
Odora Group
A. atropurpurea
Image: Leonardo L. Co
Macrorrhizos Group
A. sp. 'Benguet'
Macrorrhizos Group
A. sp. 'Benguet'
Image: @raidenmarcamarao
Princeps Group
A. reversa
Princeps Group
A. reversa
Image: Nordic Journal of Botany
Xenophya Group
A. lauterbachiana
Xenophya Group
A. lauterbachiana
Image: Nir Shohat
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