From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2000.04.01 at 15:15:13(4305)
Dear Paul,
The following may be of help to you in determining what species you actually
have--
The petioles of A. titanum are described by Wilbert Hetterscheid
as --petiole 1-ca. 5 m long (3-15+ft!!!)20-30 cm dia at the base, SMOOTH,
green or dark green with large oval to rounded, pale green spots. The
spadix of the inflorsence is basically a long, thinish conical structure,
tapering from thickist near it`s base to it`s tip, with no increase in size
or swelling in/near it`s middle. The spathe is a dark, bright purple with
pleats like a skirt that extend from it`s to it`s inner base outwards to
it`s edge.
In A. paeoniifolius the petiole is described as---petiole to ca. 2 m long
(+-6'), background color pale to dark green or blackish green, usually with
large and small blotches and numerous tiny dark dots, the large blotches
often confluent, especially near the base, SURFACE SHALLOWLY CORRUGATE TO
STRONGLY ECHINATE-VERRUCATE. In other words, the petiole is
generally/commonly NOT smooth in this species. The spadix also 'balloons'
out just above the male floral zone, then tapers quickly to it`s tip, lots
of deep vertical 'folds' occur in it`s circumference. The spathe varies in
color, being from pale green to dark brown, usually with large and small,
circular paler spots, inside basal area colored deep maroon, upper zone
dirty whitish or very pale pinkish.
The above should give you a guide to determining what species it is that was
given to you. Continue to try to speak with your friend on St. Croix to
detremine the source of her plants. There was a photo published in an
early 'Aroideana' that mis-identified a HUGE leaf of an A. paeoniifolius as
being that of a A. titanum, but this error was subsiquently corrected in a
later issue in the 'errata', and maybe this is the source of the possible
error in the I.D. of your plants??
Hope this helps,
Sincerely,
Julius
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ju-bo@msn.com
>Thank you for your fast reply. I am interested in your question about the
species. I obtained my first ones in 1980 and no longer remember the source.
The one I have now was given to me by my Australian botanist friend in St.
Croix. She was quite certain about the species. Unfortunately, I have no
photographs of my plant. I am presently experimenting to try to determine
the minimum amount of light necessary for normal growth. This year it is
still a little on the spindly side. Next year, if it puts up a leaf, I will
add another 150 watts. As far as water is concerned, it appears that if the
corm puts out a shoot, under rather dry conditions, the plants put up a
normal leaf, but stunted at about 3-4 feet in height. However, if the plant
sprouts under moist conditions, its soil must be kept damp and a slight
reduction in soil moisture immediately results in leaflet drooping. I keep
the saucer filled at all times.
I will call my friend in St. Croix and try to find out the source of her
plants. I received all of my plants as corms about the size of a
grapefruit. I will try to contact her today and will let you know. Are
there any vegetative characteristics I should look for? I am a retired
oceanographer with a minor in botany. With the proper amount of light this
makes a beautiful house plant.<
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