ALOCASIA ‘MAHARANI’
Alocasia reginula x Alocasia melo
PARENTAGE: Alocasia reginula x Alocasia melo
HYBRIDIZER: Aroid botanist Peter Boyce created this hybrid during his time at Malesiana Tropicals (circa 2009)
VARIEGATION: WHITE SECTORAL
DESCRIPTION: Thick leafed and hardy hybrid, which stays small, similar to both parents. Leaves are coriaceous, greenish-gray, with green abaxials in juvenile leaves, and deep red abaxials once plant has matured.
Alocasia ‘Maharani’ is a prime example of heterosis, which is the tendency of a crossbred individual to show qualities superior to those of both parents.
The hybrid was named after the hindi word for queen, Maharani (महारानी) as an homage to one of the parents, Alocasia reginula
Alocasia ‘Maharani’ on the left, Alocasia melo on the right
Alocasia ‘Maharani’ can be easily told apart from it’s parent Alocasia melo based on:
venation color: The hybrid will have distinctly lighter veins while Alocasia melo shows a uniform coloration
leaf texture: Alocasia melo leaves are much stiffer, with deeper embossing
leaf color: Alocasia melo will have darker/grayer leaves
abaxial color: Alocasia melo will have light green abaxials, while Alocasia ‘Maharani’ retains the red of Alocasia reginula ‘Black Velvet’
INFLORESCENCE: Green-white spathe; originally this hybrid was believed to be infertile as no pollen had been observed in collections, and all attempts to pollinate it failed. But in 2025, Jacob Shephard showed proof that his Alocasia ‘Maharani’ produced pollen, opening up potential exciting avenues for further hybrids using these hardy genetics.
Photo by @plantstika
