Alocasia zebrina Schott ex Van Houtte "White Midrib"

Overall Description

The Uncommon Zebrina of Eastern Mindanao

A. zebrina "White Midrib"

Image: Unknown

Etymology

"White Midrib" - refers to the prominent white coloration of the blade's midrib

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


Herbaria

Specimen / Collection Number: 727 (Smithsonian)

Plant Parts: Entire plant

Type Status: Unknown

Collector: Nicolson, D. H.

Date Collected: Sep 25, 1960

Determiner / Identified By: Hay, A.

Determination / Identification Date: Nov 14 1996

Biogeographic Region: Greater Mindanao

Country: Philippines

Precise Locality: Davao City, Upper Baracatan (base of Mt. Apo), Davao del Sur, Mindanao

Elevation/Altitude: 1200 m

Initial ID: Alocasia zebrina

Notes: Plant 1-1.5 m. Petiole to 1 m, striped. Inflorescences 2 at node. Peduncle 50 cm, striped. Upper spathe flaring, soon shed. Terminal portion of spadix sterile.

1200 m, along stream in newly cleared farm, Upper Baracatan (Base of Mt. Apo), Davao City, Mindanao

Link: https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/botany/

Image Link

In situ

PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: ?; Province: ?;

Coordinates of general area: Unknown

Date: November 3, 2021

Images: Ma mu

Link: None

Possible in situ

Cultivation

PHILIPPINES: Mindanao; Region: Unknown; Province: ?;

Coordinates of general area: Unknown

Date: April 27, 2021

Images: Unknown

Link: None

Cultivated specimen