Alocasia zebrina Schott ex Van Houtte "Reticulata"
Overall Description
The Uncommon Zebrina of Central Mindanao
A. zebrina "Reticulata"
Image: Ma Mu (FB)
Etymology
"Reticulata" - refers to the prominent reticulated pattern of its leaf blade
Specific epithet
None
Author
None
Native Range
Endemic to the Philippines- Mindanao
Habitat
Systems
Terrestrial
Taxonomic Notes
Morphology
Based on the Luzon holotype, not the Mindanao
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
Cultivation
PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: Unknown; Province: ?;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: May 16, 2021 (1st pic); October 17, 2021 (2nd pic)
Images: Ayk Albano
Note: Unlike the usual reticulatas with dark venation, this specimen seems to have a white-colored venation on its midrib and primary veins
Link: Facebook Link
Leaf blade
Leaf blade
Altered photo of leaf blade for detail
(Specimen from Ma Mu's specimen)
PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: Unknown; Province: ?;
Coordinates of general area: Unknown
Date: September 20, 2021 (1st pic); October 11, 2021 (2nd pic)
Images: Ma Mu
Link: Facebook Link
Cultivated specimen
Maximum leaf size it can attain