ALOCASIA LECOMTEI
ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION:
Planta minor. Foliorum petiolus circ. 3 dm longus, ultra medium vagina basim versus valde dilatata instructus, superne tenuis, lamina peltata. cordato-ovata, margine haud undulata, a triente inferiore apicem versus longe angustata, tota 1,5 dm longa, inferne 1 dm lata, lobus anticus 1,2 dm longus, nervis lateralibus I. utrinque 3 a costa angulo valde acuto abeuntibus atque uno basali arcuatim sursum versis nervum collectivum a margine 3-4 mm remotum constituentibus, lobi postici semiorbiculares 5 cm lati, 2,5 cm longi, circ. 1,3 cm longe connati, sinu brevi valde obtuso sejuncti, nervis lateralibus I. basalibus utrinque 2 in costas breves (circ. 5 mm longas) conjunctis valde arcuatis. Cataphylla inflorescentiae antecedentia late lineari-lanceolata, longe et angustissime cuspidata. Pedunculi circ. 1,5 dm longi. Spathae tubus oblongo-ovoideus circ. 1,5 cm longus, lamina oblonga circ. 4,5 cm longa, 1,5 cm lata, breviter apiculata. Spadicis inflorescentia feminea (in specimine unico suppetente pistillis abortivis astigmaticis ovula haud gerentibus) 7-8 mm longa, 6 mm crassa, mascula sterilis paullum ultra 1 cm longa 3-3,5 mm crassa, fertilis 2,5 cm longa, appendix conoidea obtusiuscula 1 cm longa, profunde sulcata. Synandrodia tetragona, transverse rhomboidea valde depressa. Synandria triandra subturbinata.
Das Pflanzenreich :regni vegetablilis conspectus (Heft 70-71: P. 90) (1919-1920)
SYNONYMS: N/A
DISTRIBUTION: Vietnam (originally discovered in the southern parts of Tonkin, a French protectorate formerly the northern half of Vietnam)
CLIMATE: Tropical humid climate
Humidity is moderate throughout the year, ranging from 60% to 70%
Temperature is varies between the seasons - within the range of 48°F/9°C to 88°F/31°C during the day. Minimum temperatures never dip below 45°F/7°C
Rainy and humid season (October to May) and a dry season between June and October. The average annual rainfall is 1,200 mm
ECOLOGY: N/A
SPECIES DESCRIPTION:
Small herb. Peltate leaves, cordate-ovate, with non-wavy margins, tapering from the lower third, 15 cm long in all, 10 cm broad near the base; Terminal lobe 12 cm. long, semi-orbicular basils, 5 cm wide. about 2.5 long, fused for 13 mm., with very obtuse sinuses, short; costal veins 3 on each side, confluent in marginal arcs 5-7 mm apart. from the edge ; basilar 2 on both sides, standing out from ribs less than 5 mm. of the petiole, very arched; petiole 30 cm long, broadly vagina at the base and to above the middle.
INFLORESCENCE: Inflorescence an oblong-ovoid tube spathe, 15 mm long, with an oblong blade, 45 mm long. of 15, shortly apiculate; peduncle of 15 cm.; ~5 cm. spadix; feminine part 7-8 mm long., 6mm thick; sterile male part 1 cm or more, 3-3.5 mm thick. ; p. fertile 25 mm long; appendage conoid-obtuse, 1 cm long, with aborted, irregular synanders. Stamens: young orbicular synanders, vaguely lobulated. Fertile ovary?
VARIEGATED FORMS: N/A
ETYMOLOGY: Named after French botanist Paul Henri Lecomte, who led expeditions in French Indo-China
NOTES: Though this species is accepted by Kew, there are no specimens in circulation or collections. Based on the JSTOR herbarium specimen, it is my belief this may be a synonym to Alocasia cucullata
CULTIVARS: N/A
HYBRIDS: N/A
