ALOCASIA RAMOSII
ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION:
Ab Alocasia heterophylla spatha abrupte constricta. synandrodiis minoribus. nervulis densioribus. costis posticis minus acute divergentibus, vena submarginali deficienti differt. -
TYPUS: Philippines. Luzon. Laguna Prov. Molawin Ck. path between Colleges of Agriculture and Forestry. 20 Oct 1960. D.H. Xicolson 752 (US. nolo). [Alocasia heterophylla auct. non (Presl) Merr.: Elmer. Leafl. Philipp. Bot. 10 (1938) 3613.]
SYNONYMS: N/A
DISTRIBUTION: Endemic to the Philippines: Luzon, Negros, Panay.
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: Lowland rain forest, often near streams, to 400 m altitude.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION:
Small herb to ca. 40 cm tall: leaves 2-severa] together, not each subtended by cataphylls: petioles to ca. 25 cm long, sheathing in the lower third: blade membranous, hastate to sagittate, to ca. 28 cm long: anterior lobe narrowly to rather broadly triangular, the margin entire to very shallowly undulate: anterior costa impressed adaxially. with 4-5 primary lateral veins on each side diverging at ca. 60° and running more or less straight to the margin (cf. A. heterophylla). with glands in the axils usually conspicuous: secondary venation arising at a wide angle from primary veins, close-spaced (ca. 1.5-2 mm apart: cf. Alocasia heterophylla, Alocasia culionensis). then abruptly deflected into a somewhat disorganised zig-zag interprimary collective vein and or running to the margin: posterior lobes diverging at an obtuse (hastate) or acute (sagittate) angle, narrow to rather broad, tapering to blunt points. 913 cm long: posterior costae naked in the sinus for 1-3 cm. never peltate except in seedlings
INFLORESCENCE:
Inflorescences 1-2 together: peduncle ca. 10-15 cm long, slender: spathe ca. 5 cm long: lower spathe ovoid, ca. 1.3 cm long, somewhat asymmetric due to adnation with spadix stipe, differentiated from the limb by a strong constriction: limb lanceolate, somewhat canoeshaped, slightly deflected at base, thence up-curved: spadix stipitate for ca. 5 mm. with the stipe almost completely adnate to the spathe: female zone ca. 8 mm long: ovaries subglobose. ca. 1 mm diam. stigma subsessile, button-like: sterile interstice short, ca. 3-5 mm long, corresponding with spathe constriction; male zone ca. 8 mm long, subcylindric, ca. 4 m diam.; synandria rhombo-hexagonal, ca. 1 mm diam., not capped by synconnective; appendix tapering to a point, ca. 1.2 cm long, slightly curved to ventral side of spathe; infructescence subglobose, ca. 1.7 cm diam.
VARIEGATED FORMS: N/A
ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet commemorates Maximo Ramos (died May 11 1932), prodigious collector of Philippine and Bornean plants, in the employ of the Bureau of Science at Manila (van Steenis-Kruseman. 1950)
NOTES:
Little complete fertile material has been found, and contemporary Alocasia growers in the Philippines have not been able to find live material that corresponds to the described/illustrated inflorescences. Unless certain, one can assume that all plants sold as Alocasia ramosii are actually Alocasia boyceana
For more distinguishing characteristics please see the ‘Notes’ section for Alocasia heterophylla
Other specimens seen: Luzon, Sorsogon Prov., Irosin (Mt Bulusan), Elmer 16344 (G, L, NY); Luzon, Laguna Prov., Los Banos, (Mt Maquiling) Elmer 17769 (K, US - mixed; see also A. micholitziana): Luzon, Rizal Prov., Loher s.n. (UC); Luzon, Tayabas Prov., Umiray, Loher s.n. (UC); Panay. Antique Prov. McGregor BS 32415 (K); Luzon, Laguna prov., resthouse nr mud springs 400 m along path from College to summit of Mt Makiling, Nicolson 684 (US); Luzon, Sorsogon Prov., along pathside around Lake Bulusan, Nicolson 722 (US); Luzon. Laguna Prov., Molawin Ck, path between Colleges of Agriculture and Forestry, Nicolson 753 (US); Negros Oriental, Mt Canlaon, above Canlaon, Nicolson 832 (US); Luzon, Laguna Prov., path from College to summit of Mt Makiling, Nicolson 845 (US); Luzon, Camarines Prov., Mt Isarog, Ramos BS 22059 (US); Luzon, Rizal Prov., Montalban, Robinson BS 6148 (US).
CULTIVARS: N/A
HYBRIDS: N/A
