ALOOASIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



ALOCASIA 



the atmosphere, but also to keep 

 such insect foes as red spider, thrips, 

 aphides, and mealy bug from spoiling 

 the leaves and young growths, and 

 thus destroying the appearance of the 

 plants. In addition to intelligent 

 watering and syringing, a little weak 

 liquid manure may be given about 

 twice a week to any specimens in which 

 particular interest may be taken. 



Ventilation must be regulated 

 according to the season, and the 

 climatic conditions prevailing out- 

 side ; and although the plants require 

 plenty of light to develop their 

 colour, care must be taken not to 

 allow the sun to scorch the foliage 

 through the glass. On very hot 

 days, therefore, the blinds must be 

 let down for some time, if the glass 

 has not been shaded permanently for 

 the summer season. 



Alocasias are propagated by means 

 of detaching suckers from the root- 

 stocks, and also by carefully dividing 

 the latter when necessary. This 

 work is best done in February or 

 March when the old plants are being 

 repotted. Each detached portion 

 should be placed in a pot by itself 

 in the compost used, and is encouraged 

 into growth by judicious watering, 

 syringing, and shading. 



The following are amongst the 

 best species and varieties : — 



A. sequilolba. — A native of New 

 Guinea, with pale green sagittate, 

 lobed leaves, 2 ft. long, and small 

 green spathes. 



A. argyrea. — This species has very 

 large, dark green, hastate, lance- 

 shaped leaves with a silvery sheen, 

 and a proininent midrib. 



A. Augustiana. — A Papuan species 

 1 to 2 ft. high, with bright green wavy 

 leaves, the stout stalks of which 

 are coloured rose, and hieroglyphically 

 marbled with brown or purple {III. 

 Hort. 1886, 593). 



64 



A. Chantrieri. — A beautiful hybrid 

 between A. cuprea and A. Sanderiana. 

 The large, wavy, arrow-shaped leaves 

 are broadly toothed, olive green above, 

 with a narrow silvery edging to the 

 main veins. The under-surface is 

 deep wine-red in colour, whUe the 

 leaf -stalks are faintly striped with 

 greenish brown. (Rev. H<yrt. 1887, 

 465 ; III. Hort. 1888, t. 64.) 



A. Chelsoni. — A nice hybrid be- 

 tween A. cuprea and A. longiloha. 

 The large leaves are shining metallic 

 green above, and purple beneath. 



A. coriacea has dark green leathery 

 leaves with clear green ribs, the 

 petioles being rose-coloured when 

 young, afterwards rosy white marbled 

 with green {Gard. Chron. 1893, xiii. 

 475). 



A. cuprea {A. metallica ; Xantho- 

 soma plumbea). — A h'ne Bornean 

 species, 6 to 7 ft. high, with large, 

 oval heart-shaped leaves, metallic or 

 coppery green above, and bronzy 

 purple beneath {Bot. Mug. t. 5190; 

 III. Hort. 1861, 283). 



A. Curtisi.— A native of Penang, 

 about 2 ft. high, the leaf -blades being 

 18 ins. long, 12 ins. broad, with long 

 basal lobes, light and dark green 

 above, purple beneath. The spathes 

 are about 6 ins. long. 



A. Desmetlaua. — ^Leaves elongated, 

 heart-shaped, deeply sinuate, with 

 spotted petioles. 



A. Dussi.— This has large olive 

 green leaves with brownish-red nerves 

 and petioles {Oartenjl. 1892, 412). 



A. eminens.— A native of the East 

 Indies, with ovate-sagittate leaves, 

 deep green above, purple beneath, 

 the medium and main veins being 

 paler in colour. 



A. grandis. — A fine species from 

 the Indian Archipelago. Leaves ovate- 

 sagittate, pale green above, deep 

 green beneath, and with blackish 

 stalks. 



