Re: Alocasia macrorrhizos and A. cucullata

Peter and fellow aroiders,

I need to jump in here and share what I've observed in my hybridization 
work with all of the species mentioned in recent posts (A. macrorrhizos, 
A. odora, and A. cucullata).  Now, in my experience there are quite a 
few A. macrorrhizos cultivars available, and one I know of seems to be, 
as Peter mentiond, a culton of A. odora.  However, most of the ones I 
call "A. macrorrhizos" have significant differences in floral morphology 
and in addition, are nearly genetically incompatible with what I have 
come to call the A. odora group.  This group includes A. odora, A. 
gageana, A. odora 'Azurea', A. odora 'Indian' and A. cucullata.  In 
hybridizing with both groups, I have found, first, that a cross of A. 
macrorrhizos and A. odora yields sterile offspring.  A cross between A. 
odora and A. cucullata yields fertile offspring.  Likewise, a cross 
between A. odora and either A. odora 'Azurea', or A. odora 'Indian' 
yields fertile offspring.  Crosses between cultivars or varieties of A. 
macrorrhizos (such as blackstem, lutea, Borneo Giant, portei) yield 
fertile offspring.  It is my position that genetic work can indicate the 
specific nature of various plants.

Thoughts?

LariAnn
Aroidia Research
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