Alocasia lauterbachiana Aurea

Retailers distinguish a 'True Aurea' break from milder gold mottling on this species, reflecting real variation in how strongly the colour break expresses between individual plants. Alocasia lauterbachiana Aurea shares the same underlying form and growth habit as Alocasia lauterbachiana (long, narrow sword-like leaves on self-heading, upright growth), with gold-yellow sectoral variegation along the sword-shaped leaf blade, sold in the trade as 'true aurea' to distinguish it from lighter mottling.

Native range

Aurea colour-break cultivar of Alocasia lauterbachiana, Northern New Guinea to the Bismarck Archipelago

Classification

Genus

Alocasia

Family

Araceae

Type

Variegated

Growth habit

Self-heading, upright terrestrial

Form of

Alocasia lauterbachiana

Morphology

Leaf shape

Long, narrow sword-like

Leaf length

20-40 cm

Leaf width

5-10 cm

Petiole colour

Green with reddish-purple blush, unaffected by leaf variegation

Venation

PinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein., prominent

Texture

Corrugated, leathery

Variegation

chimericVariegation caused by a cell mutation. Often produces high contrast but can be unstable and revert to all-green. yellow-gold sectoral variegation

Growth habit

Self-heading, upright