ALOCASIA ‘ZULU MASK’

Alocasia odora x Alocasia longiloba

PARENTAGE: Alocasia odora x Alocasia longiloba

SYNONYMS: N/A

HYBRIDIZER: Brian Williams of Brian’s Botanicals - hybridized in June 2009 in Louisville, KY, and the resulting hybrid was chosen in July 2010 and registered under USPP 25220

While the patent does not list a specific pollen parent, the similarity of Alocasia ‘Zulu Mask’ to Alocasia ‘Mayan Mask’ is indicative that the pollen parent is either Alocasia ‘Amazonica’ or an undescribed Alocasia longiloba

Brian Williams expanded on his work on the “Mask” series in Aroideana Vol. 36 (2013)

VARIEGATION: N/A

DESCRIPTION: Alocasia ‘Zulu Mask’ is characterized by its large, dark green leaves with prominent white veins on the upper surface and deep maroon coloration on the lower surface. Its leaves are long, arrow-shaped with basal lobes, cuspidate tips that point downward, and a slightly undulate margin. The leaves are oriented horizontally to downward as they mature. The petioles are greenish-white, semi-erect, and support a stemless, upright plant habit. It reaches a height of 0.9 to 1.2 meters (3–4 feet) with a vigorous growth rate and good resistance to root rot, thriving in USDA Zone 8 or warmer. The plant also forms a tuber-like trunk with age, comprised of rough, paper-like petiole scales.

INFLORESCENCE: No blooms were formed on the plants submitted for the patent