More Description

(1999) Gardens' Bulletin Singapore v.51 p.9 (1)

(See Fig. 1)

Alocasia boyceana A. Hay, sp. nov.

Ab Alocasia ramosii spadice stipitato, stigmatis acute lobatis, lobis posticis folii lobum anticum circa dimidium aequantibus differt. - TYPUS: Cult. Botanischer Garten MiAnchen ex Philippines, Cebu (orig. coll. Seidenschwarz s.n., voucher M), /. Bogner s.n. (NSW, holo).

[Alocasia heterophylla auct. non (Presl) Merr.: Engl. & K. Krause, Pflanzenr. 71 (IV.23E) (1920) 101, p.p. quoad specim. cit. Merrill 5328].

Moderately robust herb to ca. 60 cm tall; stem ca. 2 cm diam.; leaves few, ?l-3 together, often subtended by cataphylls: cataphylls papery, lanceolate, to ca. 11 cm long: petiole to ca. 45 cm long, sheathing in the lower third, sometimes maculate: blade rather narrowly sagittate to narrowly hasto-sagittate. to ca. 35 cm long: anterior lobe to 24 cm long. ca. 11 cm wide at base, with 4-5 primary lateral veins on each side of the anterior costa diverging at 45-80°: margin slightly undulate to entire: primary lateral veins somewhat prominent adaxially and abaxially, with inconspicuous glands in the axils on abaxial side: secondary venation arising from the primary at ca. 70-90° then deflected marginally, not or hardly forming interprimary collective veins: posterior lobes slender, about half the length of the anterior: posterior costae diverging at an obtuse (hastate) to acute (sagittate) angle, naked in the sinus for 1-2 cm: inflorescences paired or solitary: peduncle to ca. 20 cm long: spathe ca. 7.5 cm long: lower spathe ca. 2 cm long, ovoid, separated from the limb by a strong constriction: limb lanceolate, reflexed:. spadix somewhat shorter than the spathe. stipitate for ca. 4 mm with the stipe partly adnate to merely obliquely inserted on the spathe: female zone 6-8 mm long: pistils subglobose. ca. 1.5 mm diam.: stigma subsessile. rather sharply 3— 4-lobed: sterile interstice about equalling the female zone, tapering distally. its top corresponding with spathe constriction: male zone ca. 12 mm long, cylindric. ca. 5 mm diam.: synandria rhombo-hexagonal. ca. 1 mm diam.. opening by apical pores not overtopped by the synconnective: appendix 1.5-1.7 cm long, tapering, composed of irregularly sinuate staminodes. slightly narrower than to equalling the male zone in thickness: infructescence broadly ovoid, ca. 2.4 cm diam.

Distribution: Philippines, on Luzon. Cebu. Negros.

Habitat: Rain forest at low to medium elevation, sometimes on limestone.

Notes: The stipitate spadix. sharply lobed stigmas and cataphylliferous stem with few leaves suggest that A. boyceana is a segregate entity of the mainly West Malesian A. longiloba Miq. complex.

This species is named for Peter Boyce (K). in recognition of his continuing contribution to knowledge of tropical Asian Araceae.

Other specimens seen: Negros. Negros Oriental Province. Dumaguete (Cuernos mts). Elmer 9702 (BO. E. G. K. L. NSW. NY. US): Luzon. Hacienda de Julajala. Loher 2437 (K): Jolo. Mt Dajo, Merrill 5328 (US): Mindanao. Colabato prow. Nutol. Ramos & Edaho BS 84942 (H): Cebu. Seidenschwarz s.n. (M): Cebu. Tagbao. University of San Carlos 145 (L); Luzon. Bataan Province. Lamao R.. Whitford 1362 (K. US): Central Luzon. Bataan Province. Mt Mariveles. Lamao River. Williams 794 (NY).