Alocasia Bisma
Alocasia 'Bisma' is a compact, tuberous, velvet-leaf Alocasia traded out of West Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo), with elongated heart-shaped leaves, a silvery-blue/grey glaucous surface, prominent dark raised veins, and often a dark purple underside. It has no validly published scientific name -- growers themselves often write it as "Alocasia cf. 'Bisma'" ("cf." meaning "compare to," an open admission of taxonomic uncertainty) -- and is likely an undescribed wild species or species-complex; several visually distinct forms ("Bisma Silver," "Bisma Mahap," "Bisma Mongko," "Bisma Cupang") circulate under this one trade name, possibly representing more than one wild collection lumped together. Borneo has an estimated ~40 Alocasia species still awaiting formal description, so a genuine undescribed novelty is plausible. Bisma is also widely used as a parent in modern hybrid breeding (crossed with Alocasia reginula, Alocasia longiloba, and others), though it has no documented parentage of its own.
Forms & market value
Every named form of this plant, ordered by how hard it is to find.
- Standard (green)Common
- AlboRare
Tiers are relative, not exact prices — see “Before you buy” below.
Before you buy
Bisma's albo is its value form — rare but not top-tier priced.
- Albo bisma is uncommon; check the white is balanced and stable rather than one dramatic leaf.
- 'Bisma' is used loosely in trade — buy from a seller who can show mature leaves so you know what you're getting.
Prices vary a lot by country — tiers show relative cost, not exact amounts.
