ALOCASIA ‘DARK MATTER’

PARENTAGE:

Alocasia reginula 'Black Velvet' (ovule) × Alocasia scalprum (pollen)

ORIGIN:

A deliberate cross from David Fell's breeding program. He hand-pollinated Alocasia reginula 'Black Velvet' with pollen from Alocasia scalprum, hoping to add color and mite resistance.¹

HYBRIDIZER:

David Fell, Hawaiian Sunshine Nursery

DESCRIPTION:

A terrestrial hybrid with sagittate leaves that have a textured, matte black upper surface and a rich maroon-purple reverse. It takes its leaf texture from the pollen parent and its color from the seed parent. The blade is broader than that of either parent, and the plant shows hybrid vigor.¹

The inflorescence has a primarily green spathe that recurves all the way back to the peduncle. The white spadix protrudes about 3 in. (7.5 cm) beyond it.¹

NOTES:

1. The name refers to the matte black leaf. Fell picked it from names suggested in a social-media poll, and he has always been a science-fiction fan.¹

2. The registrant reports that the plant is patented or patent pending, that it has been propagated and keeps its distinguishing characteristics, and that it has not yet been released to the public.¹

REFERENCES:

1. International Aroid Society Aroid Cultivar Registry: Alocasia 'Dark Matter'

Photographs by David Fell