yes that's a good one thanks for the heads up on that. I got some Xanthosoma rhizomes earlier this year but I am not at all impressed by the plants I got. I brought actual plants back with me from Madeira, and having grown violaceum before I know what it looks like. Nice green leaves on dusty deep purple stems.
NEITHER LOT ARE Xanthosoma violaceum.
Three have dark stems and green leaves with reddish veins - I think they're actually Colocasia burgandy stem, Dave's probably best to give his opinion on them as he knows the colouration exactly of burgandy stem.
And as for the other three - they're a joke - not even dark coloured once they've emerged they're green, and not saggitifolium - they're no Xanthosoma at all. I actually think they're simply Colocasia esculenta. I'll put a picture on here tomorrow of the plants that I brought back from Madeira, next to my home grown violaceum and these others - all the same plant? Some people clearly should not be selling them as they don't know what they're talking about!
But then again I was sent Colocasia Black magic rhizomes as well I'll show you what these three plants look like now - and you've guessed it - they sure as hell aren't black magic either. Highly unimpressed
EDIT
Dave OK fair enough that this is a public forum, but these people sell to the public so I don't think they should not be allowed to know.
Anyway here come the pictures and you'll maybe understand why I'm not happy. First off Xanthosoma violaceum brought back from Madeira in April at the front behind what a northern seller sold me as that plant
now a true X. violaceum
the false one I believe is Colocasia burgandy stem, what say you Dave?
here is the difference in the stems, dark purple for the Xanthosoma at the front - just dark for the one behind
now onto the other seller here's the three 'Black Magic' sent to me alongside some I already have (that actually are black magic)
A close up of the imposters, can anyone tell me what they actually are?
the best thing is as we can see from this picture of the stems of two of them - they aren't even the same plant let alone all black magic!
and here are his 'Xanthosoma violaceum' as we can see dark to begin with
but the leaf opens decidely green and not a Xanthosoma leaf
and here's the largest of those sat in the pond - looking more like standard Colocasia esculenta every day. So why should I be happy paying 7 quid for this plant when i could have got it from Asda for around 30p?