The Araceae of Sumatra I: A new species of Alocasia from Aceh, Indonesia.

Abstract

Alocasiaroseus is described as a new species from Aceh Besar Regency, Sumatra (Indonesia). The plants found produce stunning inflorescence, leading to over-collecting in the wild. The new species is morphologically similar to A.flemingiana but differs by its greyish green adaxial leaves and pale reddish to greenish purple or pale brownish green abaxial leaves, lacking interprimary veins and sinus not naked, thecae overtopped by synconnective, and a pale pink appendix. The new species is also similar to A.arifolia, from which it differs by the glabrous and pale dull green petiole, the colour of abaxial and adaxial leaves, not forming interprimary vein, sinus not naked, and pale pink appendix. The new species is compared with other similar Indonesian taxa and an identification key to the species of Alocasia in Sumatra, supplemented with photographs, are provided.