OK, folks, here's a new one. You could call this a "blackstem Portora" but that wouldn't be accurate because it does not have any A. odora genes in it. This plant is a cross between my Borneo Tsunami Waves (A. macrorrhizos 'Borneo Giant' x A. portei) and the black petioled variety of A. macrorrhizos. Note the size of the plant vs. the size of the pot.

Another one - this is the same plant as I showed earlier in this thread, only now it is quite a bit larger and heavier! The cross is the black petioled A. macrorrhizos with my A. "Imperial Giant" hybrid. Note the Alocasias growing near and around - the light-veined leaf sticking up just above the plant is one of the Imperial Giants.

Please let us know when you are ready to share. These are so beautiful.

Those are absolutely beautiful and I hope that you will be in a sharing mood soon. I wish I lived in FL so I could spend my days in your yard.

Really Nice Pictures---- Paul H

I wish I could share them now, but most pictured are the only ones I have (only ones that exist?). Besides that, when I did my first two crosses in the late 1970s, I did share them quickly. The thanks I got was that both were placed into tissue culture production by "friends" without my knowledge or consent. The result is that now my plants are being sold worldwide and I do not receive even one penny of compensation! So I hope you will understand if I am not anxious to let these new babies out into the open market without some kind of protection. I don't think it unreasonable that I should receive some compensation for the work I have done in developing these new plants!

If anyone has a different point of view on this, I'd love to read it here!

LariAnn

LariAnn said:I wish I could share them now, but most pictured are the only ones I have (only ones that exist?). Besides that, when I did my first two crosses in the late 1970s, I did share them quickly. The thanks I got was that both were placed into tissue culture production by "friends" without my knowledge or consent. The result is that now my plants are being sold worldwide and I do not receive even one penny of compensation! So I hope you will understand if I am not anxious to let these new babies out into the open market without some kind of protection. I don't think it unreasonable that I should receive some compensation for the work I have done in developing these new plants!

If anyone has a different point of view on this, I'd love to read it here!

LariAnn

That is 100% understandable!
you are the one who made the hybrid, you dont want others to take credit and the money!

You work hard!!
you deserve it!

I totally agree.

Taking on the role of "devil's advocate" here, creating a hybrid is just manifesting genes that already exist in nature in a new way. The creativity comes from hybridizing in such a way as to express those characteristics that make an exceptional plant.

The issue is really complicated. In recent years, the US has issued patents on specific lifeforms and genetic expressions, to great detriment to scientific research and advancement.

Lari Ann, we want you to profit from your efforts, but it is very difficult to find a way to protect hybridization efforts such as yours and not stifle research or other significant desirable advances. Don't be angry with me, I am just responding to your challenge and raising awareness of a wide ranging problem regarding the intersection of technology and life sciences. Companies on the bleeding edge of life science technology that are attempting to protect their investments are using such tactics as self-destructing seed lines, sterile, non-reproducing varieties and other potentially risky efforts. These are, of course, controversial.

LariAnn,
you absolutely have the right to expect compensation for the work that you have done, especially since others do so.

Twitcher,
Your arguement has merit and of course everything you say is correct. It is a shame that these companies are allowed to do these things.

Don't know where else to post and it is way off topic. If you haven't seen the documentary, "Food,Inc.", please order it from Amazon now. The story of how Monsanto has monopolized corn seed is frightening. I'm all for scientific advancement but not at the expense of human health. LoriAnne is not fooling with the food chain. Makes a difference.

I've seen "Food, Inc." and heartily recommend it.

Twitcher, my breeding work is "old fashioned" pollen from one plant on pistils of another - no gene splicing or other unnatural manipulation of the genetic code is involved. While I would be interested in doing a few new blends of aroid genes from related genera of aroids, I don't have the facility for such work and, even if I could do such work, wouldn't be mixing animal genes, termination, sterilization, or any other objectionable genetic tampering into my creations.

LariAnn, I love your work and didn't think you were into the latter things you mentioned. However, I must confess that I find the thought of mixing Venus Flytrap genes with those of a large EE to create a large carnivorous plant to be oddly fascinating. Reminds me of an old black and white Tarzan movie from decades ago.

Seriously, while I am currently on the fence about genetic technology, those concerns are primarily based on all of the stupid mistakes that will be made, with the consequential associated fallout, in getting to a mature technology. Personally, I find the idea of significant health extension, for example, or growing fully functional gills (love the water) as worthwhile outcomes to the technology. But that is years away and I am taking your thread off topic. Keep the beauties coming. If I could add one more thing, please try to incorporate increased winter hardiness into some of your plant lines. We need to be able to grow zone 4 hardy aroids in the cold north and not have to store them indoors every winter.

Here's one of my hybrids that might be one step from the "holy grail" - a large leaved plant with silvery veins, red undersides, maroon petioles and with the hardiness of A. odora. This plant is A. odora x A. watsoniana, and it is still a 'baby!.

magic

Very nice. What zone would you guess?

If it has the hardiness of A. odora, it should survive in the ground to zone 8 or maybe 7 if heavily mulched so the ground doesn't freeze. That's been my goal, anyway.

LariAnn

Three zones away. I guess you've got some work ahead of you.

LariAnn,
Your new hybrids are amazing. We’re all fortunate that you’re so willing to share your knowledge and new aroids. I’m a Z5b gardener and have luck with two types of “Big Ears” (learned a lot from your DG articles), C. esculenta hybrids and X. sagittifolium. I’ve wanted to put some Alocasia’s on my “Wishlist” but don’t know of any that go dormant for winter storage. Any guidance you can provide would be appreciated.
As to justly due compensation; isn’t that part of the definition of vocation? Many jobs, or more accurately the way some pursue there vocation can be considered controversial, but being paid for one’s efforts seems basic. Best wishes to you on that front.
Evan

Evan,

Thanks for the compliments! Even my best hybrids don't go into true dormancy, although dryness and/or cool weather can cause them to go into a sort of semidormant state. Genetically, they are programmed to grow year round. I do have one species Alocasia that does go dormant naturally, but I don't think you can keep it in the ground in Z5b. You'd have to dig it up once it went dormant and store it in a frost-free location over winter. The plant is Alocasia hypnosa, and I do have a few available now (dormant still). Let me know if you are interested.

Here's a link to my page on this plant: http://www.aroidiaresearch.org...

LariAnn