A. sanderiana Hort. ex W. Bull
Overall Description
A. sanderiana
Image: Brynne Mejares
Etymology
Specific epithet
sanderiana - after the German–English gardener Henry Frederick Conrad Sander (1847–1920)
Hort. - short for hortulanorum; non-wild, cultivated plants known and described in agriculture or gardening circles can be examined by taxonomists to determine if the plants can be established as species and published
ex - the initial description did not satisfy the rules for valid publication, but the same name was subsequently validly published by a second author or authors
Author
W. Bull- William Bull
Published: 1894 in A Catalogue of New Rare and Beautiful Plants and Orchids offered by William Bull, 1894
Synonyms
Alocasia urdanetensis Elmer: urdanetensis - from Mt. Urdaneta
Native Range
Occurs on Mindanao Island (Philippines) in Misamis Occidental (Mt. Malindang) and Bukidnon Provinces (Impalutao Reforestation Project) at 777 m asl (08°15'190'' N and 125°02'135'' E). (1)
Endemic to Mindanao. Philippines. (2)
Habitat
The species is found in primary and secondary forest at low altitudes. (1)
Old forest in damp ravines at low elevation. (2)
Systems
Terrestrial
Taxonomic Notes
The species was first described by W. Bull in 1884. It can easily be distinguished from the rest of the Alocasia species by its deeply undulate to subpinnatifid margins and white veined leaves. (1)
First published in Gard. Chron., n.s., 24: 183 (1885) (2)
Morphology
Moderately robust herb to 60 cm tall; stem decumbent to creeping, ca. 15 cm long, ea. 2 cm thick; leaves solitary to few together, interspersed with cataphylls (precise arrangement unclear from herbarium material); cataphylls papery, narrowly lanceolate; petiole to 60 cm long, sheathing in lower fifth to quarter; blade sagittate, deep glossy green adaxially, purple abaxially (?always), peltate for 25-30% of the length of the posterior lobes, to ea. 40 cm long x 20 cm wide; margin deeply undulate to sub-pinnatifid; anterior lobe to 24 cm long; anterior costa with 3-4 often but not always opposite primary lateral veins on each side diverging at ca. 80-100°, these somewhat acropetally deflected towards the tip of each segment; primary veins and costae white to yellowish; secondary veins emerging from the primary at a wide angle, thence deflected marginally, not or hardly forming interprimary collective veins; inflorescence mostly paired; peduncle slender, ea. 14-18 cm long; spathe 6-10 cm long, lower part 1.5-2 cm long, ovoid; limb 4-8 cm long, more or less canoe-shaped; spadix somewhat shorter than to half the length of the spathe, stipitate for ea. 5 mm; female zone ea. 1 cm long; ovaries ea. 2 cm diam., subglobose; stigma sessile, rather sharply 3-4-lobed; sterile interstice corresponding to spathe constriction, ea. 5 mm long, tapering distally; male zone 1.2 cm long, ea. 4-5 mm thick (dry); synandria rhombo-hexagonal with the thecae ventrally but hardly laterally joined; synconnective centrally impressed, marginally slightly exceeding but not capping the thecae; appendix short, equalling the male zone, cylindric then abruptly tapering in distal 3-4 mm, slightly narrower than male zone (dry). (2)
Description
The species is found in two locations, namely Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental (Mindanao Island). The population is confined to secondary and primary forest at lower elevations. Both locations are protected areas, however, part of Mt. Malindang Range is now being logged by indigenous and local people. In Bukidnon, the population of A. sanderiana was found growing in the Almaciga Reforestation Project area. This place is frequented by local tourists who visit the waterfalls in the area. (1)
Use and Trade
Alocasia sanderiana is used as ornamental plant because of its colourful and enduring foliage. It is also reported that the species is used by the natives to treat headaches. Fifty percent of the global population is utilized. (1)
Threats
Agricultural expansion (kaingin) and associated increased exploitation are the main threats to A. sanderiana at Mt. Malindang Range. In Bukidnon, the population is at risk from recreational activities; the area is often visited by local tourists due to the presence of water falls and swimming pools. Plants are collected for ornamental and medicinal use. (1)
More Description
(1894) A Catalogue of New Rare and Beautiful Plants and Orchids (3)
ALOCASIA SANDERIANA.
A remarkably handsome and truly grand Arad, from the Eastern Archipelago, forming one of the finest of variegated-leaved stove plants. The colour of the young leaves is bright glossy green, and on the older leaves the surface has a metallic blue reflection. The leaf-blade is arrow-shaped, the front portion with about three triangular lobes on each side, the basal portion with one or two smaller lobes; the thick costa and the stout cross veins are white, conspicuously bordered with ivory-white, the margins also being white. This is certainly the most beautiful of all the Alocasias, and a most magnificent foliage plant. 5s. and 7s. 6d.
Fig. 1: page 8 of "A Catalogue of New Rare and Beautiful Plants and Orchids (1894)"
Herbaria
Specimen / Collection Number: K000400153 (Kew)
Plant Parts: Leaves
Type Status: Unknown
Collector: Micholitz, W.
Date Collected: Jan 1887
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao (most likely)
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Unknown
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: Ex herb. Moore, Jan. 1887.
Specimen / Collection Number: K000400155 (Kew)
Plant Parts: Leaves
Type Status: Unknown
Collector: Loher, A.
Date Collected: Feb 1893
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Nov 14, 1996
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Surigao, Mindanao
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: None
Specimen / Collection Number: K000400156 (Kew)
Plant Parts: Leaves
Type Status: Unknown
Collector: Brown, N.E.
Date Collected: Unknown
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Nov 14, 1996
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao (most likely)
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Unknown
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: Alocasia Sanderiana Bull! Cat. 1884, p. 11, & 3 with fig.
Florist & Pomologist 1884, p. 94.
Philippines!
From Mr. Bull Aug 4, 1886.
Specimen / Collection Number: K000400154 (Kew)
Plant Parts: Leaves, Fruit, Flowers/inflorescence (with inflorescence axis), Flowers/inflorescence
Type Status: Unknown
Collector: Loher, A.
Date Collected: Feb 25, 1891
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao (most likely)
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Manila, Mindanao, Luzon Central (probably cultivated)
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: Manila (in horto cl. dom. Boie cult.) Mindanao
Specimen / Collection Number: K000291397 (Kew)
Plant Parts: Entire plant, in flower
Type Status: epitype
Collector: Bull, W.?
Date Collected: Unknown
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Nov 14, 1996
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao (most likely)
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Unknown
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: None
Specimen / Collection Number: 7276 (Smithsonian)
Plant Parts: Entire plant, sterile
Type Status: unknown
Collector: Merrill, E. D.
Date Collected: Oct 1910
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Agusan River, Butuan, Mindanao
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: None
Specimen / Collection Number: 129 (Smithsonian)
Plant Parts: Entire plant, sterile
Type Status: unknown
Collector: Mearns, E. A.
Date Collected: Sep 25 1903
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Pantar, Lanao del Norte, Mindanao
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: None
Herbaria Barcode: 00217753 (Harvard)
Plant Parts: Entire plant, sterile
Type Status: unknown
Collector: A. L. Zwickey
Date Collected: Oct 18 1938
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Near Cawit, Lanao Province, Mindanao Island
Elevation/Altitude: 100 m
Initial ID: Alocasia sanderiana
Notes: "Dalug dalug" (Lan.); "Gabi gabi" (Bis.). Old forest near Cawit; elevation about 100 M..
Link: https://kiki.huh.harvard.edu/databases/specimen_search.php?mode=details&id=144548
In situ
PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: BARMM; Province: Basilan;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: July 28, 2020
Images: Shameer Gappal Mangkabong
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/philippineplants/posts/3200509286694383
Adaxial
Abaxial
PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: BARMM; Province: Basilan; (assumed)
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: August 31, 2020
Images: Shameer Gappal Mangkabong
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/philippineplants/posts/3298845033527474
