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Alocasia fornicata (Roxb.) Schott, Oesterr. Bot. Wochenbl. 4: 410 1854. (Syn: Arum fornicatum Roxb.; Colocasia fornicata (Roxb.) Kunth);         Alocasia or Colocasia? Hooghly 17-01-13 sk2: Species : UNKNOWN
H & H : about 3 ft high, spathe about 9 cm long
Date : 16/1/13
Place : Hooghly This is same species as in my earlier upload at – efi thread. It is wild, common and no part of this plant is edible. Its habitat is similar to my recent post on Colocasia. In my earlier post, in addition to other genera as suggested by … and myself, … suggested Schismatoglottis sp.
“Bengal Plants” doesn’t describe any Schismatoglottis sp., FoC has two species, but the pictures found in google search do not match with any of those two in FoC. Net search informs that one of the synonyms of some Schismatoglottis species can be Colocasia.
“Bengal Plants” describes :-
(i) ovules few, basal ———— Alocasia
(ii) ovules many, parietal ——– Colocasia
The above is beyond my capacity and i try tread alternative path –
“Bengal Plants” describes two Colocasia species, the details of one can be found in my recent posts at – efi thread 1 and efi thread 2.
Neither “Bengal Plants” nor relevant entries in F. B. I. and F. I. ever mention that any species or varieties of Colocasia (found wild in Bengal) has glossy leaves. Instead F. B. I. vi. 523. mentions, “…… leaves 6-16 in., dark green, dull, sometimes clouded with black……..”
“Bengal Plants” describes five Alocasia species, the details can be found at – link.
I think this species might be the Alocasia fornicata Schott of “Bengal Plants”. Attaching new set of photographs. I think your choice of Alocasia is acceptable. The long stem in the picture below indicates Alocasia not Colocasia. But I am not sure about the correct name. I think you are right. Good on you. Thank you very much for your kind mail.
I copy here the the keys of Alocasia as in the “Bengal Plants” :-
A. Leaves not or very slightly peltate :-
Leaves ovate-cordate; lower nerves approximate, subpalmate ——- A. cucullata Schott. (1)
Leaves sagittate-cordate; nerves pinnate ——– A. indica Schott. (2)
B. Leaves distinctly peltate, the basal lobes connate, nerves pinnate :-
(i) Basal lobes of leaves united for less than half their length –
Leaves broadly ovate; basal lobes rounded, connate for only one tenth their length —— A. macrorrhiza Schott. (3)
Leaves ovate-lanceolate; basal lobes acute or obtuse but not rounded, connate for one-third to one-fourth their length —- A. fornicata Schott. (4)
(ii) Basal lobes of leaves connate for three-fourths their length; leaves elongated-rhomboid. candate-acuminate, contracted opposite the basal lobes —- A. acuminata Schott. (5)
Using the above keys i thought my species could be either no.3 or no.4. I scaled the basal lobes of five leaves of this plant, the connate portion varies from 1/5th to 1/9th their length,
I would have suggested A. macrorrhiza Schott. For, Roxburgh noted in Flora Indica, “….. blossoms from close of the rains till January….. polished (leaves) on both side….. petioles from two to three feet long….. smooth, polished, of an uniform green in every part….. spathe … both side smooth and of a pale green colour…. berry numerous, size of a small cherry, ….. of a shining scarlet….”
The above very much conforms to this species in this thread. But, at the same time the “Bengal Plants” and the “FLora Indica” described A. macrorrhiza Schott. as a cultivated species. Roxburgh noted, “…. From Pegu this most stately species of Arum, Caladium of Ventenat, was sent by the Rev. Mr. Felix Carey, to the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, where it thrives luxuriantly and blossoms from close of the rains till January….. The flowers possess a considerable degree of fragrance which to most people is agreeable, a rare quality in the flowers of an Indian Arum…..”
That’s why i suggested the other one, A. fornicata Schott. AT the same time i admit that i didn’t smelled its flower which i regret now.
Thanks…, this is Alocasia fornicata (Roxb.) Schott., BISH- KOCHU or SALA-KOCHU in Bengali. More detailed account of the plant can be found in BoBO. Attached herewith more photographs, recorded on 13/9/13, to show variability in mature and immature leaves and mature spadix. Attachments (7).
Araceae Fortnight 1 Aug to 15 Aug 2014 : UNKNOWN-3 SK-03 : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (4).
This is again from CKBS, Kolkata. Alocasia fornicata (Roxb.) Schott?
(water monitor, found there, is relief from bad photography!) This is also Alocasia fornicata (Roxb.) Schott.      Araceae Fortnight 1 Aug to 15 Aug 2014 : 3in1 : SK-11 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (5).
Comparision of Alocasia fornicata, A. macrorrhiza & Colocasia esculenta
Alocassia ID from Bangladesh SM 177 : 6 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (3)
Habit: Herb
Habitat Wild Location: A village of Sirajganj District Date: December_9, 2014 If it was here I would have suggested Alocasia fornicata only. But Bangladesh has A. acuminata also. KEW herbarium doesn’t help in this regard. Attached here the KEY in Bengal Plants. But, leaves of A. fornicata are very variable. My suggestion is if all or majority leaves of the community are caudate-acuminate then it is A. acuminata, else A. fornicata. Of-course Sourav should consult his regional flora for distribution. Sorry, here is the KEY Yes, it is Alocasia fornicata Thank you for confirming … Location: Kolkata, India
Date: 8 September 2017
Elevation : 25 ft.
Pl. check comparative images at Araceae: Sorry! Did not find match. Appear close to Alocasia species at .
Thank you for sharing this beautiful photograph of A. foricata.
Location: Jalthal, Jhapa, East Nepal
Date: 03 January 2023
Elevation: 110 m.
Habitat: Wild I suppose that this is Alocasia fornicata (Roxb.) Schott.
There is now a very nice set of photos of Alocasia species at https://www.aroidpedia.com/
..together with many of the original taxonomic descriptions.
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