An Unknown Alocasia ?

[Moose]

First - I have very little knowledge when it comes to aroids. I think this may be an Alocasia, no idea as to the species. I got the larger plant from a nursery that specializes in alot of very rare and unusual plants. I have had other exotic volunteers pop up as in other plants from them. Does anyone recognize this plant? Is it worth digging up and getting its own container? The reddish petioles are rather striking IMO.

[kahili]

Moose. that looks like a red stemmed colocasia. The way to tell the difference between colocasias and alocasias are that the colocasia leaves point downwards (you can see it more on the older leaves in this pic) and alocasia leaves go straight up. As a general rule, colocasias can take a lot more water than alocasias (usually you will see a colocasia in a water garden-but hardly ever a alocasia)

Red stemmed colocasias are one of my favorites of the colocasias. They are tough, growing well under a lot of situations (not a lot of water etc), and are clumpers and are fast growing. They are also very cold hardy-surviving our winters up here in Raleigh. And you are right-the red stems are really striking in the landscape. I would transplant it into a gallon container, and when it puts out more roots-in the spring, put it in the ground and leave it. It will get pretty big, so give it some space. It will take full sun or some shade , but not tons of shade-it likes the sun. If you ever want more of them, you can partially dig up the clump and grab a few babies.

[John Case]

Agreed....used to have them here....

[Moose]

Moose. that looks like a red stemmed colocasia. The way to tell the difference between colocasias and alocasias are that the colocasia leaves point downwards (you can see it more on the older leaves in this pic) and alocasia leaves go straight up. As a general rule, colocasias can take a lot more water than alocasias (usually you will see a colocasia in a water garden-but hardly ever a alocasia)

Red stemmed colocasias are one of my favorites of the colocasias. They are tough, growing well under a lot of situations (not a lot of water etc), and are clumpers and are fast growing. They are also very cold hardy-surviving our winters up here in Raleigh. And you are right-the red stems are really striking in the landscape. I would transplant it into a gallon container, and when it puts out more roots-in the spring, put it in the ground and leave it. It will get pretty big, so give it some space. It will take full sun or some shade , but not tons of shade-it likes the sun. If you ever want more of them, you can partially dig up the clump and grab a few babies.

Thanks for the information! Was actually just checking out this plant earlier this evening. It appears to have dark (purple-ish) stirations on the petioles. Did not image it to be a Colocasia since the only thing I knew about them is that they are water hogs. You've explained why it has thrived without getting irrigated heavily.

Well - I'm definitely got to get it planted up on its own now.

Kindest regards,

Ron

[Moose]

It was more difficult to remove this Colocasia than I thought. It sure had alot of roots all tangled with the other plant. Then I didn't remove any leaves so they all melted and I thought it was a goner. These photos were taken this morning, it is on the road to recovery.

Is there a species name? Or just red stemmed Colocasia?

[aussiearoids]

Looks more like a form of Alocasia macrorrhizos to me . Maybe even a young New Guinea Gold .

[Pedro 65]

Looks more like a form of Alocasia macrorrhizos to me . Maybe even a young New Guinea Gold .

Michael, go and have a double shot coffee

Ron , your Colocasia is Colocasia esculeta "red stem' which for good sales they call it Colocasia esculenta "rhubarb" heres a nice plant from Davesgarden. Pete

[kahili]

I told you it was a tough one with all the roots! Looking at the leaves today-they don't look like 'red stem'. I can see why Michael said New Guinea Gold because the leaves have that shiny look to them and are shaped very similar. But its definitely not NG gold (which has yellow stems and is a Alocasia) or macrorrihizos (which has green stem-also a Alocasia-which means that 95% of the time the leaves will point upwards when mature as opposed to Colocasias which point downwards).

I am going to go look at one of my young red stem leaves and see how they look. These leaves look different.

[kahili]

I just looked at mine, of which I am sure is a red stem and the leaves do look different than yours Moose. At least from the picture that I see of yours. Mine have a yellowish midrib down the leaf , yellowish veins and a red dot (just like dry land taro). It looks just like this leaf https://www.plantsnouveau.com/plant/colocasia-red-eyed-gecko/ except that the leaves are not as bright green as the leaf in the link (which looks like a new variety). Does yours have a red dot and visibly different colored veins?

[aussiearoids]

Sorry pedro , but if you look closely at first pics , you can clearly see the leaf is not peltate , like all Colocasias are .

Also Colocasia are not shiny like pictured plant . There is a red stem form of Alocasia macrorrhizos , a very rare form .

New Guinea Gold will not show its true colours until well into summer , and coming from Kavieng , very close to the equator it is hard to get going in less than ideal climate . Come on guys , WHO is the Alocasia expert here ?

Edited March 21, 2013 by aussiearoids

[Hammer]

Looks more like a form of Alocasia macrorrhizos to me . Maybe even a young New Guinea Gold .

Michael, go and have a double shot coffee

Ron , your Colocasia is Colocasia esculeta "red stem' which for good sales they call it Colocasia esculenta "rhubarb" heres a nice plant from Davesgarden. Pete

That's a nice looking plant. Pete, do you know the dimensions...height and width of the species when full grown?

[tropicbreeze]

Have to ageree with Michael on this one. My first impression was Alocasia - non-peltate leaves. But then you only have to look at the photo posted by Pete to see that Moose's is Alocasia and Pete's is Colocasia. I have a red-stemmed Alocasia, it's in a pot that stands in shallow water. Apart from my "Jewel" Alocasias, most of the others also prefer to be standing in water, but only shallow.

[kahili]

Just looked at one of my NG gold's and sure enough the stem is dark reddish! I'll be darned...lol. I am embarrassed to say that I never clicked on Moose's photo to see the stems up close. Just saw the red stems and assumed. If I had enlarged the photo earlier, I would have seen the stems and would have known it wasn't a C. Red stem. I think it might be a New Guinea Gold as Michael said (Good eye Michael!). Moose if it is, really soon you will start to see yellow veins and a yellow variegation on the leaves. The stems will turn yellow as it matures. It's a great alocasia, really distinctive in the garden, and a good strong grower that will be pretty big fast. The more sun you give it, the faster/larger it will grow, and fert it as well. It doesn't clump much, but will send out some babies later on. Here is a picture of a mature one http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.skg.com/plants/Alocasia%2520New%2520Guinea%2520Gold.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.skg.com/Alocasia%2520New%2520Guinea%2520Gold.html&h=600&w=448&sz=81&tbnid=z9ybrOWZwDBw2M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=67&zoom=1&usg=__xKERrB6CxbaLSjLfqhAEMMb4LGI=&docid=mlN5nWDaXCLeNM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rRpLUczaFPLF4APj6YGIAw&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAQ&dur=22

[Jeff Searle]

Sorry pedro , but if you look closely at first pics , you can clearly see the leaf is not peltate , like all Colocasias are .

Also Colocasia are not shiny like pictured plant . There is a red stem form of Alocasia macrorrhizos , a very rare form .

New Guinea Gold will not show its true colours until well into summer , and coming from Kavieng , very close to the equator it is hard to get going in less than ideal climate . Come on guys , WHO is the Alocasia expert here ?

Michael, I with you totally on this one. It has Alocasia written all over it. And Pete, this plant in your picture really isn't that close in looks as Michael pointed out. The edge of the leaves seperate it. And Michael, your spot on about A. new Guinea Gold, it's true colors are lost in the cooler/colder months, the plant actually can go backwards and shrink in size. Only then in the warmer months will the yellow, mottling on the stems and leaves begin to change. Ron, this could be that, if I could see it in person, I could be sure. But as it begins to warm up, you might see this thing change.

Jeff

[aussiearoids]

I have never seen a New Guinea Gold with such a red petiole , BUT ..

It is very variable , often pink , sometimes green and usually yellow . this clump was shaded in a row of Heliconias .

This clump was in much brighter light , pic taken late spring .

Notice green petiole .

They do prefer a bit of shade to look best imho .

[Pedro 65]

Michael, Zig and Jeff, Im with you all Michael re post 7 about double shot coffee..well, thats what I had when I wrote that post and I felt like an Aussie on Roids not an Aussie Aroid Have a great day fellas. Pete

[aussiearoids]

I always have a double shot

[Jeff Searle]

Michael, Zig and Jeff, Im with you all Michael re post 7 about double shot coffee..well, thats what I had when I wrote that post and I felt like an Aussie on Roids not an Aussie Aroid Have a great day fellas. Pete

Were all in this together....

[Moose]

Here are some better photos of my plant that may aid in a definitive ID

The last two leaves to emerge showing some green pattern coloring. The first photo is the latest leaf.

The lower ends of the petioles showing color and stirations of purple?

The "upper" ends of the petiole (towards the leaf) are slightly pinkish fading to green while the stirations remain.

Here isthe oldest petiole not exhibiting as much color. It appears that each succesive leaf and petiole gets more colorful. I do not see any evidence of a yellow striping yet?