Re: [aroid-l] Question--Colocasia "Black magic"

Tony Avent <tony@plantdelights.com> wrote:

>Jason:
>
>    Regarding your Colocasia 'Black Magic' question, I can share a bit of
>background.  This clone clumps in most climates, but when grown as an
>aquatic, it does produce runners.  In very wet season, we have seen the
>occasional runner.  In tissue culture, C. 'Black Magic' mutated to a form
>that runs in all climates.  It was given the name C. 'Black Runner'.  This
>form also has leaves that emerge darker and have more ruffling around the
>edges.  I hope this helps.
>
Yes, it does.  As I recall, it is the variety C. e. aquatilis that runs.  Your explanation suggests that these varieties may be, at least in part, ecotypes -- when grown it a wet stuation, it "becomes" aquatilis.  Have there been any genetic/phylogeny studies on the three varieties of C. esculenta, to determine whether their differences are genotypic (suggesting true subspecies) or merely phenotypic (suggesting ecotypes)?

Jason Hernandez
Naturalist-at-Large
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