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Krzystof Kozminski's Aroid Pages Archive is presented by the International Aroid Society |
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Alocasia "Black Velvet" |
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This is apparently a recently dicovered species alocasia (supposedly
from Borneo), but already available commercially, sometimes in such unlikely
places as Home Depot or Orchard Supply Hardware.
It is very susceptible to spider mites. I also think it prefers high
humidity. My plant has never been as gorgeous as the one below. I think
I'll try building a mini-greenhouse for it.
![](../../../horticulture/blkvvt.jpg) |
This photo is linked from the IAS WWW page on aroid
micropropagation... |
![](JPEG/Black_Velvet.1.jpg) |
And this is a pathetic little single-leaved plant I am trying to grow.
This is a brand new leaf, and therefore has quite a lot of green color
in it. |
![](JPEG/Black_Velvet.2.jpg) |
Same plant, couple months later, still one leaf. This one has matured to nearly black.
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![](JPEG/Black_Velvet.3.jpg) |
Perhaps in response to my continuing unsuccessful attempts to induce it into lush growth, the plant decided that it's time to reproduce before I kill it, and started making inflorescences instead of leaves. This is the second one of them, all of 1 inch tall.
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![](JPEG/Black_Velvet.4.jpg) |
Same inflorescence, cut open for a closeup of the flowers.
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All locally-linked photos Copyright © 1997 Krzysztof Kozminski
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