ALOCASIA ZEBRINA ‘TIGRINA’

CULTIVAR DESCRIPTION: Alocasia zebrina ‘Tigrina’ is a popular and very old cultivar of Alocasia zebrina which has been in circulation as far back as 1864 (see William Bull catalogue).

Alocasia zebrina 'Tigrina' first appears in the record in William Bull's 1864 catalogue, listed among the "New & Rare Stove Plants" at 63 shillings (~$670–700 today) — double the 31 shillings 6 pence (~$335–350 today) asked for Alocasia zebrina, which had been introduced in 1862 and was by then established stock. Some of that premium reflects novelty, but Bull described 'Tigrina' as having leaves "quite distinct, being strikingly incised," and priced it accordingly.

Alocasia zebrina ‘Tigrina’ is defined by coloration that is reminiscent of a tiger’s coat seen on both petioles and often peduncles (though not consistently present in them)

A NOTE ON UNCERTAINTY:

Despite its long history in cultivation, 'Tigrina' has never been collected from the wild and was never validly published as a species — the name appears in neither IPNI nor POWO. Its placement under Alocasia zebrina is horticultural convention rather than demonstrated relationship. William Bull compared its petioles to Alocasia longiloba rather than to Alocasia zebrina, even though both were in his catalogue, and David Burnett (Aroideana 7, 1984) was openly reluctant to connect the 19th-century name to the plant he figured, noting how little descriptive material survived. Some references still list it as a possible undescribed species or hybrid. It is retained here under Alocasia zebrina pending molecular study.

REFERENCES:

1. Exotic Rainforest

2. William Bull Catalogue (1864-1865)

3. David Burnett | The Cultivated Alocasia (1984)

4. Aroid-L

5. Additional photos by Min’s Garden, Joshua Datinguinoo, Daunwow, and Alocasiaandco

HYBRIDS:

• Alocasia ‘Brisbane Tigress’ (Alocasia brisbanensis x Alocasia zebrina ‘Tigrina’)