International Aroid Society

Hi Ken,

the IG I grow since 2002, when I got an offset from CJ Addington, has definitely fewer spots than the regular form.

You can see pictures here:
http://www.amorphophallus-forum.de/typhonium-venosum-im-originalzustand-typhonium-sauromatum/andere-araceaen-nach-gattungen-f27/t316-f9/
see posts # 5, 15, 36, 40, 55

The second trait which separates this IG genotype from the regular form is that the length/width ratio of the Fingers" of the leaf is much smaller; so the fingers are much wider than in the regular form.

The genotype I grow goes back to a strain grown by Tony Avent / Plant Delights Nursery, so a population of homogeneous genotypes.

CJ wrote the following:

"If I recall correctly, I did indeed get that clone from Plant Delights years ago. At first glance it resembles the ?normal? form, especially in juveniles, but the mature plant is quite distinct. The ?Indian Giant? produces leaves that are substantially larger than normal, and the individual leaf segments ( the ?fingers?) are broad, wide, and slightly wavy on the edges. If a normal leaf looks like a giant human ?hand?, with long thin fingers, the Indian Giant leaf looks like a gecko foot, with wide fingers. I hope that makes sense!?
Also, the Indian Giant corm gets much larger, makes fewer offsets, and the bloom is taller and stockier than the normal."

If you find time, please send picture of your plants...

Best, Bernhard.

-------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht --------

Betreff:	[Aroid-l] Sauromatum venosum 'Indian Giant' or maybe not?
Datum:	Wed, 5 Aug 2015 10:09:26 -0400
Von:	Ken Mosher <ken@spatulacity.com>
Antwort an:	Discussion of aroids <aroid-l@www.gizmoworks.com>
An:	Aroid list <aroid-l@gizmoworks.com>

I'm currently the beneficiary of a Sauromatum venosum 'Indian Giant' that is producing its third full-sized leaf from the primary growth point. I'm not sure why it's so happy, but I'm happy that it's happy! As I recall the corm was approx ping-pong ball sized (or slightly larger) when I planted it so I can't wait to see how big it is when I dig it in the fall. This one's planted in the ground and I gave it a healthy dose of time-release fertilizer when I planted it.

If anyone has an opinion on this --> I bought two this year as 'Indian Giant' because I had lost mine a few years ago.

The plants that popped up are certainly large enough to be 'IG' with the leaf over knee-high in full sun from a tuber of modest size. What doesn't mesh with my memory of my former plants is the petiole speckling. My 'IG' in the past had noticeably fewer spots than the regular species. These two plants' petioles aren't significantly different from the straight species. Also, even though the leaf is tall and large the leaflets don't have the particular shape that I recall from my former 'IG'.

Is there much variation in the 'IG' form? Is that form likely a single clone (and thus no variation)? If I had any sense at all I'd have a photo attached... Add that to the list of items I need to take care of after work today.

-Ken