More Description

(1862) Proceedings of the Royal Horticultural Society London v.2 p.451

(See Fig. 4)

CLASS XXVI. — NEW OR RARE TENDER PLANTS NOT IN FLOWER.

Alocasia zebrina: — from Messrs. VEITCH & SON. A very fine Arad from the Philippine Islands, introduced by Mr. J. G. Veitch. It was a stout-growing plant of bold habit, and had thick green broadly sagittate erect leaves, on stout erect stalks, which were mottled and banded with dark green on a pale green ground, so as to become snake-like in marking. It was both curious and handsome, and received the SILVER KNIGHTIAN MEDAL offered for plants of this class.

(1863) Flore des serres et des jardins de l'Europe (2)

(See Fig. 1 & 2)

ALOCASIA ZEBRINA (VEITCH), SCHOTT.

Aroideæ, SCHOTT

CHARACT. GENER. — Vide SCHOTT. Prodr. Syst. Aroidearum, 1860, p. 144.

CHARACT. SPECIF. — A. petiolis flavide-albentibus, maculis atroviridibus angustis; lateraliter plus minusve confluentibus et irregulariter sursum deorsumque prominulis; in zonas plus minus ve transversas sæpeque interruptas consociatis; lamina fol. vix peliata, inferne profunde sagittata, lobo antico sensim angustalo, acuminato, posticis duplo circiter longiore. SCHOTT, in Litt.

Alocasia zebrina (VEITCH.), SCHOTT. in Litt.

Google's Translation from Latin:

CHARACT. SPECIF. — A. petioles yellowish-white, with narrow dark spots; laterally more or less confluent and irregularly prominent upwards and downwards; into zones more or less transverse, and often break together together; plate fol. scarcely peliate, below, deeply arched; the front lobe gradually narrower, pointed, about twice longer than the rear.

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L'Alocasia zebrina fut introduit de Manille en Europe, il y a trois ou quatre ans à peu près, par l'infatigable et persévérant M. Marinus Porte. Nous avons eu, à cette époque, la bonne fortune devoir, de convoiter des yeux cette coquette aroïdée, peu après son arrivée sur la terre d'exil! Elle se baignait les pieds dans l'Aquarium du Jardin des plantes de Paris et semblait se complaire dans l'élément humide que l'on avait artificiellement chauffé à l'intention de la Reine de l'Amazone.

En présence de la Victoria, on eùt dit que notre favori jouait le rôle de page, un charmant page, vraiment! svelte de tournure, élégamment orné de sa léopardine zébrure!

Deux ans après, - le petit page, devenu très-adulte, se montrait majestueux dans l'Aquarium de M. James Veitch en Angleterre. Ses dimensions avaient sextuplé ; il était là dans toute sa måle beauté! La zébrure avait grandi et paraissait plus colorée même que dans son jeune âge.

Rangé sous la bannière des Alocasia par le savant M. Schott, il recevra lors de sa floraison son baptème définitif.

Très-accommodant, il se plait tout aussi bien assis sur une prosaïque planchette d'une serre chaude que plongé par sa base dans un Aquarium quelconque. Il se multiplie chez nous avee la même facilité que le font ses congénères. L.VH.

Google's Translation from French:

Alocasia zebrina was introduced to Europe from Manila about three or four years ago by the tireless and persevering Mr. Marinus Porte. At that time, we had the good fortune to covet this aroid coquette with our eyes, shortly after her arrival in the land of exile! She bathed her feet in the Aquarium of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris and seemed to revel in the humid element that had been artificially heated for the Queen of the Amazon.

In the presence of the Victoria, it was said that our favorite was playing the role of page, a charming page, really! slender in shape, elegantly adorned with its leopardine zebra stripe!

Two years later - the little page, grown very old, appeared majestic in the Aquarium of Mr. James Veitch in England. Its dimensions had increased sixfold; he was there in all his beauty! The welt had grown and looked more colorful even than it was at a young age.

Arranged under the banner of Alocasia by the learned M. Schott, it will receive its definitive baptism when it blooms.

Very accommodating, it is just as happy sitting on a prosaic board in a greenhouse as it is immersed by its base in any Aquarium. It multiplies with us with the same ease as do its congeners. L.VH.

(1869) L'Horticulteur français: p.243

(See Fig. 3)

Alocasia Liervalii. C'est une magnifique espèce des iles Philippines découverte par l'infortuné Porte, et mise au commerce par M. Lierval. Elle est, sans contredit, la plus belle etla plus grande des Aroïdées. Comme port, elle a quelque ressemblance avec les Alocasia Boryi et odorum ; mais elle en diffère surtout par le pétiole des feuilles plus marbré ; le limbe d'une grandeur extraordinaire, est d'un vert luisant clair et transparent sur lequel les nervures subdivisées à l'infini forment des dessins bizarres qui, vus par transparence, sont d'un effet admirable. Aussi la plante ne se donne pas. Prix, la pièce, 150 fr.!

Google's Translation from French:

Alocasia Liervalii. It is a magnificent species from the Philippine Islands discovered by the unfortunate Porte, and put on the market by M. Lierval. She is, without a doubt, the most beautiful and the largest of the Aroids. As a port, it has some resemblance to Alocasia Boryi and odorum; but it differs from it especially by the petiole of the leaves more mottled; the limb of an extraordinary size, is of a clear and transparent shining green on which the veins subdivided to infinity form bizarre designs which, seen by transparency, are of an admirable effect. Also the plant is not given. Price, the piece, 150 fr.!