Description
Raised from a cultivated stock originally found near Lhasa in Tibet. A. flavum tibeticum is generally regarded as a taller form with a larger inflorescence and more substantial growth generally. Unfortunately for the taxonomists this makes flowers when it is still very small and so it can be dwarf, intermediate or, when it is older and better established, much larger. The “flag” of the inflorescence always comprises a larger proportion of the overall size however, even when it is a dwarf (that does make sense if you consider it).
The extension of the bright yellow spathe is larger and more flag-like than in the more well-known abbreviatum form and it is not as sharply deflexed downwards at the top like that form. However being larger it does flop down eventually but in a totally different manner, obvious when you see it, but less easy to explain. Additionally it lacks much of the conspicuous purple blotch in the throat; so that the general appearance of the yellow is purer though it must be said that there is still a varying amount of purple diffused across the throat and this stock, which is genuine tibeticum, exhibits a much wider range of variation than the books would have you believe exists.
The inflorescence has a lovely perfume, a rare feature that occurs in few other species.
Photograph 2 (gallery) © Guy Gusman, with permission.