Alocasia micholitziana "Frydek"

(Click on the photos to see them enlarged)

 michel.jpg (39711 bytes)I obtained this from Home Depot, of all places.   I've been calling it Alocasia micholitziana for over a year but have been assured that it is not.  I had heard that it was difficult to keep alive.  It is not.  I guess I've been pretty wrong about it in general.   I managed to keep it over the winter on a kitchen counter which received some direct sunlight for about an hour a day.  The room stayed warm and so apparently preserved the plant. It actually grew quite well despite the short light period.  It's now putting out large leaves and has two offsets growing.  It's apparently far less tender than it's reported to be.

There's controversy about the name of the plant.  Some insist that it's Alocasia micholitziana.  Others call it micholitziana "Frydek" and yet others insist it's just Alocasia "Frydek".  I'm choosing to call it Alocasia micholitiziana "Frydek" for the following reason:michel1.jpg (41861 bytes)

No one has indicated that this is a cross.  If that's the case, then it needs a species name.  On the other hand, if the wild occurring plant is difficult to raise and someone named "Frydek" identified a variety that's easier to grow, then I'm willing to give Mr., Mrs., or Dr. Frydek the due credit.

 

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