Aglaonema commutatum var. elegans (Engl.) Nicolson

Aglaonema commutatum var. elegans

Aglaonema commutatum var. elegans (Engler) Nicolson, 1968, p. 125. A. elegans Engler, 1915, p. 28, fig. 11.

Petioles 9–20 cm long, 0.4–0.7 times as long as the leaf-blade (equaling, fide Engler). Petiolar sheaths (4) 9–13 cm long. Leaf-blades 17–30 cm long, 5–9.5 cm wide, length/width ratio 1:(2.7)3–3.7; variegation in the form of bars following the main veins on the upper surface; venation differentiated into 4–7 primary lateral veins diverging from the midrib at (30°) 45°–70° (80°, fide Engler). Spathe (3.5) 4.5–7.0 (10.5) cm long, 2–3.9 cm wide. Spadix 2–7 cm long; staminate portion 1.5–5.7 cm long, 0.4–0.6 cm thick.

TYPE COLLECTION.—Java, Bogor Botanic Garden, Engler, Reise nach Java und Britisch Indien 1905–6 n. 4070 (not found in B or BO). In the absence of a specimen, Engler’s published illustration may be considered as type-material. It should be noted that Engler described the veins as diverging from the midrib at 70°–80° while the illustration shows the veins diverging at 45° or less.

DISTRIBUTION.—Philippines, central Luzon. Escapes from cultivation.

Engler indicated that his taxon was close to A. commutatum but was distinguished by its larger and more elongate leaves and especially by its elongate-oblong spathe. The illustration of the spathe is not particularly distinctive nor are the measurements given in the description: “6–7 cm. longa 1 cm. ampla” (Engler apparently measured width without unrolling the spathe and, thus, his “1 cm. wide” would correspond to 2–3 cm wide in a flattened spathe). The distinctive character of the leaves can be summarized as a length of over 20 cm and more than 2.9 times the width.

The best approximation to Engler’s description is made by McGregor, Bur. Sci. 23077, which even has the veins diverging at 70° from the midrib.