Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, system and method relate to a shaft-actuated spindle mixer where the spindle mixer includes a motor and at least one motor switch enclosed in a mixer housing. A spindle shaft extends from the housing and is mechanically connected to the motor. The motor is mounted to a moveable mixer component such that the spindle shaft can be displaced to thereby causing the associated movement of the enclosed motor and moveable mixer component to which the motor is mounted. Movement of the movable mixer component actuates a switch. Actuating the switch causes the selective activation of the mixer motor. Activating the mixer motor rotates the spindle shaft. The disclosed apparatus and method provide for the optional one-handed operation of a spindle mixer, eliminate the need for a user or a cup to directly contact a switch to engage the spindle mixer, and further provides for the sanitary operation of a spindle mixer.

Abstract: A blender with an air intake snorkel where the snorkel extends away from a motor housing provided by the blender is provided. The snorkel includes an air intake opening, an outlet opening, and a conduit fluidly connecting the intake and outlet openings. In one preferred embodiment, the snorkel includes a cap connected to the snorkel wherein the cap partially obstructs access to the intake opening in order to prevent contamination of the conduit. The outlet opening fluidly communicates with an inlet aperture provided by the motor housing. In use, an electric motor contained by the housing actuates a fan. The fan pulls air through the intake opening, conduit, and outlet opening. The air enters the housing via the inlet aperture where it acts to cool the electric motor. In one preferred embodiment, the appliance is a blender and the motor housing comprises a blender base that is installed on a countertop or in-counter (i.e., a portion of the blender extends into or through the plane defined by a countertop).

Abstract: A new cultivar of Alocasia plant named ‘Upright Mayan Mask’, that is characterized by its leaves that are 1 to 3 feet in length (age dependant), dark green in color with lighter green veins on the upper surface and dark purple in color on the lower surface with colors non-fading with sunlight and age, its leaves that are thick and durable that remain upright with age and are wind tolerant, its light green petioles, its upright plant habit providing good cold tolerance and rot resistance, its ability to produce large stem-like tubers with age, its fast growth rate, its healthy root system, and its height of about 1.8 m.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Noble Gigante’, that is characterized by its large plants that grow up to 2 m in height, its large leaves up to 1.2 m in length that are held horizontal and are green and suffused with purple when young and mature to deep purple, its petioles that are deep purple in color, its inflorescences that are purple in color and sterile, and its vigorous growth habit.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Alocasia plant named ‘Zulu Mask’, that is characterized by its large leaves that are dark green in color with white veins on the upper surface and dark maroon in color on the lower surface, its leaves that are long, arrow-shaped with long basal lobes and leaf tips that point downward, its leaves that are orientated horizontal to downward, its petioles that are greenish white in color, its plant height of 0.9 to 1.2 m (3 to 4 ft.) when mature, and its good resistance to root rot.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Black Ripple’, that is characterized by its leaves that are very dark black-purple in color with a surface that is corrugated (puckered), iridescent and shiny, its dwarf and compact plant habit, its petioles that are deep purple in color, its clump forming growth habit, and its vigorous growth habit.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Imperial Gigante’, that is characterized by its large leaves that are light green and suffused with black between bright yellow-green veins, its leaves that are held horizontal to the petioles, its large tubers when mature, and its small tuberous rhizomes that are produced at the base of mature plants.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Electric Blue Gecko’, that is characterized by its leaves that are very dark black in color with a metallic blue sheen on the upper surface and dark maroon on the lower surface, its dwarf and compact plant habit, its petioles that are dark maroon in color, and its clump forming growth habit.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Dragon Heart’ that is characterized by its large plant habit growing up to 2.1 m in height, its large leaves up to 90 cm in length, its velvety leaves that are very dark purple-black in color, its production of large tubers up to 15 cm in diameter, and its maroon petioles that are streaked with dark maroon and black.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Victorious Gigante’ that is characterized by its very large leaves that are light green in color on the upper surface and grey-green on the lower surface and held horizontal on petiole, its leaves with a rugose surface and cupped edges to form a bowl shape, and its small tuberous rhizomes at the base of the plant that become large tubers with age.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Caladium plant named ‘Poison Dart Frog’, that is characterized by its compact, medium-sized plant habit growing 30 to 60 cm in height, its sagittate-shaped leaves that are dark green overlaid with large reddish-pink blotches and sporadically with small white spots in color, it petioles that are dark green in color, its healthy root system, its ability to grow well in full sun where its leaves develop a reflective sheen, and its production of very large tubers as it ages.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Painted Black Gecko’, that is characterized by its clump forming, medium-sized plant habit growing 1.2 to 1.5 m in height, its leaves that are very dark purple-black in color with a blue metallic sheen, its leaves with lower surfaces that are dark maroon in color, its petioles that are dark purple-black in color, its healthy root system that is that is resilient to cold in U.S.D.A. Zone 7, and its production of tubers as it ages.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Black Sapphire Gecko’, that is characterized by its clump forming, large plant habit growing up to 1.8 m in height, its leaves that are dark purple-black in color with a reflective sheen on the upper surface and maroon in color on the lower surface, its petioles that are dark maroon in color, its healthy root system that is cold hardy up to U.S.D.A. Zone 7, and its production of large tubers as it ages.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Maximus Gigante’, that is characterized by its clump forming, large plant habit growing up to 2.1 m in height, its large leaves up to 1 m in length that are held nearly horizontally, its leaves that are green in color with a pinkish-purple marking where the stem attaches and dark bluish-purple colored markings between the veins, its leaves with lower surfaces maroon-gray to green in color, its petioles that are dark green to bluish gray in color, suffused with pink at the edges, its healthy root system that is cold hardy up to U.S.D.A. Zone 7, and its production of very large tubers as it ages.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named, ‘Fierce Gigante’, that is characterized by its leaves that are large in size, its leaves that are rounded and hastate in shape, its foliage color that is green with a small light violet dot in the center of the leaf, its larger growing habit up to 7 feet in height, its clumping, robust and vigorous plant habit, its petioles that are deep purple in color, its foliage that is held horizontally to upright in aspect, and its root system that is strong and healthy.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Alocasia plant named ‘Kuching Mask’ that is characterized by its hastate shaped foliage, its leaves that are green in color with veins that are light green in color, its plant height that averages between 2 to 2.5 m, its foliage that is held upright, its large tubers, and its resistance to root rot and cold temperatures of Zone 8 and greater.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Tea Party’ that is characterized by its smaller plant habit reaching 76 cm to 91 cm in height, its foliage that is dark to black in color with a reflective sheen, its leaves with a cup-like aspect, its petioles that are red to pink in color, and its clumping growth habit.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Pharaohs Mask’ that is characterized by its clump forming growth habit, its plant height up to 1.5 m, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its petioles that are dark black in color, and its leaf veins that are dark black in color, prominent, and raised starting at the mid-vein and running to the edge of the leaves.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Pharaohs Mask’ that is characterized by its clump forming growth habit, its plant height up to 1.5 m, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its petioles that are dark black in color, and its leaf veins that are dark black in color, prominent, and raised starting at the mid-vein and running to the edge of the leaves. A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘COPHAMA’ that is characterized by its clump forming growth habit, its plant height up to 1.5 m, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its petioles that are dark black in color, and its leaf veins that are dark black in color, prominent, and raised starting at the mid-vein and running to the edge of the leaves.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Corede’ that is characterized by its corrugated foliage with a reflective sheen, its black foliage with bright pink mid-veins, its petioles that are dark maroon-black in color, its plant height of 1.2 to 1.5 m, and its clumping plant habit.