But what to call the different forms @LariAnn? As you've noted A. macrorrhizos won't work, and then there's the "black mac". How about A.'Plumbea Nigra', etc.? It's not registered but we could add Comments to help clarify the status.

In working within the constraints of the Botanical and Cultivated codes there really isn't a taxonomically correct place for so many of these beauties we collect, except into our Alocasia Parent Entry with a caption naming the variant.

Evan,
I'm still of the mind that some of what are known as different types of A. macrorrhizos may indeed be species in their own right. I don't have the Ph. D. to set it forth in a publication or get recognized for that, but lacking that doesn't change the nature of plants themselves. Anyone with good observational skills and the ability to investigate plants via breeding can find out a lot about them even without a Ph. D. Too bad academia doesn't recognize this.

So for now we are left with whatever the taxonomists wish to call them, until they publish another paper and change their minds! To me, A. plumbea and variants are not A. macrorrhizos. The true Black Mac may be a species but since I haven't worked with it or seen how it breeds, I cannot be certain about that ;yet. Others I have worked with, I can discuss in greater detail. Chimeric plants like A. plumbea "nigra" and the white variegated Mac, IMHO, should not be designated species as they are way too variable for that, not to mention the fact that all A. plumbea types seem to be sterile anyway.

The comments may be the best place to clarify things such as I am mentioning here.

LariAnn

Thank kindly LariAnn.

eclayne said:Thank kindly LariAnn.

Thanks, Drew.

LariAnn said:Every A. plumbea I've worked with, whether "nigra" or regular, has turned up sterile in my experience. To me, sterility cannot be a hallmark of a true species; otherwise, the whole definition of species is thrown to the wind. Species have to be able to reproduce sexually; if they cannot, then they must be sports or cultivars, not species. IMHO.

Makes total sense to me!

LariAnn said:Every A. plumbea I've worked with, whether "nigra" or regular, has turned up sterile in my experience. To me, sterility cannot be a hallmark of a true species; otherwise, the whole definition of species is thrown to the wind. Species have to be able to reproduce sexually; if they cannot, then they must be sports or cultivars, not species. IMHO.

Makes total sense to me LariAnn.

Hello all,
I have been reading this thread with interest and particularly interested in LariAnn's comments, to the point of sharing some information with you all from my observations growing this plant.
Living here in Australia, I see constant reference to this cultivar as being 'Yucatan Princess' which I am led to believe to be totally incorrect. Something I have observed with the A. mac 'Plumbea Nigra' or what it may correctly be called on my specimens is the light coloured area adjacent the petiole junction, which then returns to a purple colour through to the drip tips. I also note there is a very fine black line all the way around the outer edge of the leaf. Could I please have a positive ID on this please? Kind regards from downunder, Bruce

WOW you are reviving a 10 year old thread here that many of us have never even seen. None of the people except perhaps 'Bubbles' are even still on this site. Although Lari Ann is still alive and well in So. Florida.
I have never had the pleasure of growing Yucatan Princess, but I do grow both green and variegated macros and I also grow plumber nigra 'Metallica'. I will have to look for these characteristics on mine

this is one of my Alocasia Macrorrhizos Plumbea Variegata Natural Mutation from Philippines

this is one of my Alocasia Macrorrhizos Plumbea Variegata Natural Mutation from Philippines!!! This is my Facebook account 👇
(Teslanet Door)

Alocasia plumbea is a synonym for Alocasia macrorhizzas. Its not necessary to use both when naming the plant. Those are very lovely! Hope they make it to the US

Wow, like that.