Alocasia wenzelii Merr.
Overall Description
Zebrina of the Visayas Islands and Northeastern Mindanao
Native Range
Endemic to the Philippines- Northern Mindanao, Leyte, and Samar
Habitat
Systems
Terrestrial
Taxonomic Notes
Morphology
Moderately robust to robust herb to 1.8 m tall; leaves several together, not interspersed with cataphylls save at the beginning of a sympodial module; petiole to 1.1 m long, sheathing in the lower third, pale green, obliquely streaked brownish and/or darker green; blade rather narrowly sagittate, ca. 45-100 cm long, rather coriaceous, rich glossy green; anterior lobe triangular to somewhat ovate, to 80 cm long, with ( 4-)6-10 primary lateral veins diverging from each side of the anterior costa at ea. 80-90° and running almost straight to the margin, bearing small axillary glands on the abaxial side; secondary venation flush with the lamina and inconspicuous on both surfaces of the blade, arising from the primary veins at a wide angle then deflected to the margin without forming interprimary collective veins; posterior costae diverging at an acute or right angle, bearing lamina to the sinus and often minutely peltate; posterior lobes elongate, three fifths to two thirds the length of the anterior lobe; inflorescences paired, not in large clusters; peduncle ea. 25 cm long; spathe 13-16 cm long; lower part 2.2-3 cm long, narrowly ovoid, separated from the limb by an abrupt constriction corresponding with the sterile interstice of the spadix; limb narrowly lanceolate, erect; spadix somewhat shorter than the spathe, stipitate for ea. 7 mm; stipe conic; female zone 1.4-2 cm long x ea. 8 mm wide; ovaries globose; stigma weakly lobed, subsessile; sterile interstice ea. 1 cm long, distally attenuate; male zone cylindric, ea. 3-4.5 cm long x 5 mm thick (dry); synandria rhombo-hexagonal, 1.5-2 mm diam., capped by synconnective; appendix distinctly narrower (at least in dry state) than male zone, 4.5-5 cm long, tapering; fruiting spadix globose, ea. 4.5 cm diam. (1)
Description
Use and Trade
Threats
More Description
Herbaria
Specimen / Collection Number: 97 (Smithsonian)
Plant Parts: Leaf
Type Status: Isotype of A. wenzelii Merr., Original publication and alleged type specimen examined
Collector: Wenzel, C. A.
Date Collected: 191-
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Dagami, Leyte
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia wenzelii
Notes: None
Specimen / Collection Number: 810 (Smithsonian)
Plant Parts: Leaf
Type Status: Unknown
Collector: Nicolson, D. H.
Date Collected: Dec 1, 1960
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Nov 14 1996
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Loquilocan Barrio, Samar
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia zebrina
Notes: Stem 4 cm thick, hypogaean. Petiole 30-35 cm, striped. Sheath 23-25 cm, persistent. Blade 40-45 x 18-20 cm at petiole. Posterior lobe 25 cm, sinus acute, not denuded. Sterile.
Samar, Loquilocan Barrio.
Specimen / Collection Number: 823 (Smithsonian)
Plant Parts: Leaf
Type Status: Topotype of A. wenzelii Merr.
Collector: Nicolson, D. H.
Date Collected: Dec 3, 1960
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Nov 14 1996
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Dagami area, lumber camp near Putok River, Leyte
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia zebrina
Notes: Petiole 100 cm, striped. Sheath 33 cm. Blade 40 x 20 cm. Posterior lobes acute, 26 cm.
Dagami area, lumber camp near Putok River. Leyte
Specimen / Collection Number: 18929 (Smithsonian)
Plant Parts: Leaf and infructescence?
Type Status: Unknown
Collector: McGregor, R. C.
Date Collected: Jun 1914
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Nov 14 1996
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Biliran, Eastern Visayas region
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia wenzelii
Notes: None
Collection Number: 97
Herbaria Barcode: 00139306 (Harvard)
Plant Parts: Leaf and inflorescence
Type Status: Isotype of A. wenzelii Merr.
Collector: C. A. Wenzel
Date Collected: Mar 28, 1913
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Leyte
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia wenzelii
Notes: None
Link: https://kiki.huh.harvard.edu/databases/specimen_search.php?mode=details&id=59445
Collection Number: Unknown
Plant Parts: Leaf
Type Status: Isotype of A. wenzelii Merr.
Collector: Chester A. Wenzel
Date Collected: 191-
Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.
Determination / Identification Date: Jan 1997
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Leyte
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia wenzelii
Notes: None
Collection Number: 97
Plant Parts: Leaf and inflorescence
Type Status: Isotype of A. wenzelii Merr.
Collector: C. A. Wenzel
Date Collected: 191-
Determiner / Identified By: None
Determination / Identification Date: None
Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao
Country: Philippines
Precise Locality: Leyte
Elevation/Altitude: Unknown
Initial ID: Alocasia wenzelii
Notes: ID based on (Philipp. J. Sci. 13: 2. 1918)?
Link: https://collections-botany.fieldmuseum.org/catalogue/281105
In situ
PHILIPPINES: Visayas, Negros Island; Region: Central Visayas (Region VII); Province: Negros Oriental, Cuernos de Negros Mtns;
Coordinates of general area: 9 14 31.97 N, 123 10 45.80 E
Date: November 28, 2004
Images: Leonardo L. Co
Link: Links in respective photos
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Leyte, EDC Leyte Geothermal Production Field. Ormoc City and Kananga Municipality;
Coordinates of general area: 11 10 60.00 N, 124 34 0.00 E
Date: September 25, 2009
Images: Leonardo L. Co
Notes: Alocasia cf. zebrina; fruiting plant. Leaf looks similar to A. sinuata but the petiole is similar to A. zebrina
However, the leaf margin is sinuate and the presence of silvery patches on the leaf indicates that it is not A. zebrina or it is just a result of environmental conditions since the area is the site of a geothermal plant?
Link: Links in respective photos
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Samar and Leyte;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: Feb 24, 2011 (1st pic); Aug 13, 2010 (2nd pic), Feb 18, 2010 (5th pic)
Images: Wally Suarez (వాలీ సువరేజ్)
Links in respective photos
Image 1: Alocasia wenzelii in situ, Samar Island, Philippines. Those leaves are over three feet long- way longer and bigger than Alocasia zebrina's, and the petiole markings don't reach all the way up to the apices of the petioles (many still consider them conspecific, but then again many who think of them that way have not seen the two alive, in their natural habitat). (Suarez, W.)
Image 2: Leyte
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Samar or Leyte; (assumed)
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: September 10, 2011
Images: Ronny Bubble
Link: Facebook Link
Habit
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Samar or Leyte; (assumed)
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: December 22, 2015
Images: Hort Log
Link: Facebook Link
Habit
Leaf blade
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Leyte;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: December 7, 2019; months before Typhoon Haiyan, so year 2013
Images: @burbotanicals
Habit
Petioles
Cultivation
Cultivated outside of country: USA, Florida, Miami, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date:
Images: Howard, R.A.
Links:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/303c8206b-5b07-45bb-b715-28d7394c4bcb
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/344bf609e-95d8-4d59-a8d1-7b42fbeeca42
Image 1: Inflorescence and Leaf blade
Image 2: Inflorescence
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Samar or Leyte; (assumed)
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: January 17, 2021
Images: Al Alquizalas
Link: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3ca6caed7-741d-43a0-9eee-ff161ae47e17
Leaf Blade
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Samar or Leyte; (assumed)
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Images: Pinoy Plants
Habit
Leaf Blade
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Leyte, Inopacan;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: January 19, 2021
Images: Prince Jover
Link: Facebook Link
Leaf Blade
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Samar or Leyte; (assumed)
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: August 28, 2021
Images: Ayk Albano
Link: Facebook Link
Leaf Blade
PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: Caraga; Province: Agusan del Norte, Bit-os;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: August 7, 2021
Images: Own Photos
Link: None
Top View
Front View & Petioles
PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: Caraga; Province: Surigao del Sur, Lianga;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: October 31, 2021
Images: Own Photos
Link: None
Specimen 1
S1 close-up
Specimen 2
S2 close-up
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Eastern Visayas; Province: Leyte;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: November 14, 2021
Images: Derek Cabactulan
Link: None
Leaf Blade
Petioles
PHILIPPINES: Visayas; Region: Unknown; Province: Unknown;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: November 14, 2021
Images: Hannah Lea
Link: None
Leaf Blade