My Alocasia zebrina hasn't gone dormant in several years but it has done so in the past. I believe the "trick" may be that I keep it in a very bright south facing window and make sure the soil temp never drops below 60 degrees F.
According to botanist Pete Boyce the name Alocasia tigrina does not exist in science. It has been applied to Alocasia zebrina in the trade for a clone with very well-marked petioles. Alocasia tigrina superba is just another "made-up" name primarily used by sellers.
They do this because most have no understanding of natural variation in aroids but there may also be a financial reason. If a seller has more product to sell then collectors will buy more plant. If two plants "look" different then the seller has more things to sell. Obviously I can't prove that but more than a few aroid researchers have mentioned that possibility.
There is also a version sold as Alocasia reticulata that also is only a variation and made-up name. LariAnn has been doing more research on that one. "Reticulata" is not a recognized species but most sellers claim it is, instead it is just another form of Alocasia zebrina according to all the botanists. I've traded dozens of email on all of these with Pete and Alistair Hay and they insist there are no other species involved.
Alocasia zebrina is endemic to the Philippines and restricted to the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Leyte, Samar, Biliran and Alabat. To be "endemic" just means it isn't found anywhere else in the world.
A zerbrina is easily distinguished from all other Philippine Alocasia species by its rather narrowly sagittate leaves with striped petioles. Sagittate means to have the shape of an arrowhead but the posterior lobes will be longer than broad and directed toward the base.
Everything I've been able to learn is here:
http://www.exoticrainforest.co...
It may be good if LariAnn will add her thoughts and observations to this thread.
As for Dave's, if you want to start a thread I'll gladly respond. However, I'd really like to see what others add before i chime in. There are some good minds on Dave's and at this point I'd rather allow them to take the lead. One, other than Lariann, is a friend.
Steve
