<i>Alocasia </i>plant named ‘AP091520’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Alocasia plant named ‘AP091520’, characterized by its tall and upright plant habit that becomes outwardly arching with development; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; glossy green-colored and undulate leaves that are initially held vertically becoming more horizontal with development; and green-colored leaf petioles that are initially erect and arch outwardly with development.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Alocasia plant named ‘AP091520’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alocasia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alocasia plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘AP091520’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is side perspective view of typical plants of the mutation parent, ‘Portora’ (left) and ‘AP091520’ (right).

(4) The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Low Rider’ (left), ‘AP091520’ (center) and ‘Calidora’ (right).

(5) The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 4) is a close-up view of the base of a typical plant ‘AP091520’ showing the roots and cormels.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 25-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 750 μmol. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and full sunlight conditions. Plants grown in the shade house were 13 weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Alocasia hybrida ‘AP091520’. Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Alocasia hybrida ‘Portora’, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By “chipping” the rhizomes. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at temperatures about 32° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at temperatures about 24° C. Primary rhizome description.—Appearance: Thick, fibrous and somewhat starchy; rigid. Length: About 10.5 cm. Diameter: About 6.9 cm. Texture and luster: Initially, smooth and glossy; with maturity, becoming tough and somewhat woody. Color, outside: When harvested, close to 145D; when dry, close to 200A; axillary buds, close to 147D. Color, inside: Close to NN155D. Secondary rhizome description.—Length: About 2 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth and glossy. Color, outside and inside: Close to NN155D. Cormel description.—Length: About 1 cm to 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 15 mm. Texture and luster, outside: Smooth; matte. Texture and luster, inside: Smooth, starchy, somewhat brittle; matte. Color, outside: Close to 159D and 155D. Color, inside: Close to NN155D. Root description.—Thick, fleshy roots with many fine lateral branches; color, close NN155C. Rooting habit.—Dense. Plant description: Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape plant in full sun or shaded areas. Plant and growth habit.—Tall and upright plant habit becoming outwardly arching with development; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; potted plants in 20 to 25-cm containers finish in saleable form in about 12 to 14 weeks after planting; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing points on rhizomes; leaf petioles initially upright and arching outwardly with development; undulate leaves initially held vertically becoming more horizontal with development. Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 54 cm to 70 cm. Plant diameter or spread.—About 70 cm to 87 cm. Number of leaves per plant.—About four to six leaves develop per primary shoot and about one to two leaves on young axillary shoots. Cataphylls.—Length: About 2 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Lance-shaped or strap-like. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Sheathing the stein. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to NN155C and 143D; color becoming closer to 199C with subsequent development. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Alternate; simple; initially held vertically becoming more horizontal with development. Length, flattened.—About 35 cm to 49 cm. Width, flattened.—About 22 cm to 30 cm. Shape.—Ovate to cordate. Apex.—When developing, acuminate, becoming cuspidate to apiculate with development. Base.—Sagittate. Margin.—Entire; undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface.—Slightly rugose, glabrous; flexible; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy to satiny. Venation pattern.—Pinnate; eucamptodromous. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 137C tinged with close to 137A. Margins: Close to 138A to 138B tinged with close to 144B. Basal notch: Close to 138A to 138B. Midvein: Close to 137C. Lateral venation: Close to 137B to 137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 138B. Margins: Close to 138B. Basal notch: Close to 138B. Midvein and lateral venation: Close to 145B to 145C. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 137A and NN137A. Margins: Close to 137A and NN137A. Basal notch: Close to 137A and NN137A. Midvein and lateral venation: Close to 137B to 137C. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 137C. Margins: Close to 137C Basal notch: Close to 137C. Midvein: Close to 145B to 145C. Lateral venation: Close to 145C. Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and outwardly arching with development; flexible. Length: About 36 cm to 49 cm. Diameter, distally: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter, proximally: About 4.5 cm to 5 cm. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 137C; just below the leaf junction, close to 137B to 137C. Wing length: About 27 cm to 32 cm. Wing diameter: About 2 cm to 2.2 cm Wing texture and luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Wing texture and luster, outer surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Wing color, inner surface: Close to 139D with venation, close to 139C. Wing color, outer surface: Close to 137C. Inflorescence description: To date, inflorescence initiation and development has not been observed on plants of the new Alocasia. Pathogen tolerance: Plants of the new Alocasia have been observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new Alocasia have not been observed to have tolerance/resistance to other pathogens common to Alocasia plants. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alocasia have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 7b to 10b.