2 The Philippine Journal of Science wis 



ARACEAE 



ALOCASIA Schott 

 ALOCASIA WENZELII sp. nov. § Eualocasia. 



Planta magna, glabra; foliis longe petiolatis, usque ad 1 m 

 lcngis, haud peltatis, oblongo-ovatis vel ovatis, coriaceis, nitidis, 

 laevis, margine cartilagineis, sursum angustatis, apice obtusis ad 

 leviter acuminatis, basi profunde lobatis, lobis oblongis, obtusis, 

 30 ad 50 cm Iongis ; nervis subtus valde prominentibus, utrinque 

 8 ad 11, patulis, basilaribus deflexis usque ad apicem loborum 

 attingentibus ; inflorescentiis longe pedunculatis, spathis oblon- 

 gis, aeutis, usque ad 12 cm Iongis et 2.5 cm latis, vetustioribus 

 reflexis, spadicis circiter 10 cm Iongis. 



A large, coarse, glabrous plant, the caudices in old plants up 

 to 0.7 m high and 15 cm in diameter. Petioles stout, up to 1 m 

 in length, when fresh green and mottled or horizontally striped. 

 Leaf -blades oblong-ovate, up to 1 m in length and 45 cm in width 

 in the widest part, pale-olivaceous when dry, from the tip of 

 the basal lobes to the apex attaining a length of 1 m, coriaceous, 

 somewhat shining, smooth on both surfaces, the margins pro- 

 minently cartilaginous, entire ; basal lobes not spreading, oblong, 

 obtuse, attaining a length of 50 cm, the sinus extending to the 

 insertion of the petiole, usually narrow, acute; apex obtuse 

 to obscurely acuminate, the blade gradually narrowed from base 

 to apex; lateral nerves 8 to 11, very prominent on the lower 

 surface, spreading at nearly right angles except the basal pair 

 which is deflexed and extends quite to the tip of the basal lobes, 

 emitting from one to three prominent veins on the outer side; 

 reticulations obscure. Inflorescences numerous, their peduncles 

 up to 45 cm in length. Tube of the spathe oblong, about 2 cm 

 long, the limb at first boat-shaped, oblong, acute or somewhat 

 apiculate, about 12 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, white, ultimately 

 reflexed and deciduous. Spadix cylindric, erect, up to 10 cm 

 in length, the basal pistillate portion about 1.5 cm long and less 

 than 1 cm in diameter, the staminate portion 3 to 3.5 cm long, 

 cylindric, somewhat thicker than the pistillate portion, the 

 appendage acute or acuminate, cylindric, about equalling the 

 staminate and pistillate portions of the spadix. Staminate and 

 pistillate flowers crowded. Stigmas sessile, subcapitate, scarcely 

 lobed. Apex of the anther-bearing body truncate, crenate, 

 about 2 mm in diameter, anthers apparently 8 to 10. Fruiting 

 spadices ovoid or ellipsoid, when dry about 3 cm long. 



Leyte, Dagami, Wenzel 97 (type), March 28, 1913, on forested slopes, 

 altitude about 60 meters. Biliran, Bur. Sci. 18929 McGregor, June 22, 



