ALOCASIA ‘MAYAN MASK’
Alocasia odora x Alocasia ‘Amazonica’
PARENTAGE: Alocasia odora x Alocasia ‘Amazonica’
SYNONYMS: Alocasia ‘Upright Mayan Mask’, Alocasia ‘Williams Hybrid’
HYBRIDIZER: Brian Williams of Brian’s Botanicals - hybridized in July 2008 in Louisville, KY, and the resulting hybrid was chosen in April 2010 and registered under USPP 24391P2
While the hybrid was registered under the name Alocasia ‘Upright Mayan Mask’, outside of the patent documents, the hybrid is known simply as Alocasia ‘Mayan Mask’
VARIEGATION: N/A
DESCRIPTION: Alocasia ‘Mayan Mask’ is characterized by leaves that are 1 to 3 feet in length (age dependent), dark green in color with lighter green veins on the upper surface and dark purple in color on the lower surface with colors non-fading with sunlight and age, its leaves that are thick and durable that remain upright with age and are wind tolerant, its light green petioles, its upright plant habit providing good cold tolerance and rot resistance, its ability to produce large stem-like tubers with age, its fast growth rate, its healthy root system, and its height of about 1.8
INFLORESCENCE: The hybrid features a distinctive inflorescence characterized by a spadix surrounded by a spathe, with the male portion positioned above the undeveloped female flowers. On average, the inflorescence reaches 22 cm in length and 4 cm in diameter, while the inflorescence bud, linear to slightly narrow oblanceolate in shape, measures around 16 cm in length and 1 cm in width, presenting a color of 143D. Emitting a delightful banana fragrance, the inflorescence blooms intermittently throughout the flowering season, with individual flowers lasting about 2 to 3 weeks. Typically, the plant sets groups of three or more, hosting an average of 60 female flowers per spadix. The spathe, an elliptic hooded bract subtending the spadix, has an entire margin, obtuse apex, and a coriaceous surface, measuring 15 cm in length and 5 cm in width. It retains its vibrant color, 143D when opening and fully open, before fading to 160D over a period of 5 to 7 days. The spadix's male zone extends above the female zone in an upright cylindrical shape, with a narrowly pointed apex, approximately 1.3 cm in diameter and 10.6 cm in length, adopting a color of 8D both immaturely and upon maturation. The female zone measures 2.5 cm in both diameter and length, colored 143C at all stages. Supporting the inflorescence, the peduncle emerges from the plant's base, extending up to 30.5 cm in length and 1.3 cm in diameter, held at a 20° angle, demonstrating durability and strength in color 143C, with a glabrous surface.
Photo by @gardens_of_babylon
