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
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