Nephthytis swainei (Araceae)
Rhizome with long internodes, (ca. 2 cm). LEAVES: Petiole smooth, 10-30 cm long geniculum 2-3.5 cm; leaf blade subtriangular or sagittate 10-20 cm long and 10-20 cm wide, shortly acuminate, leaf edge translucent. INFLORESCENCE: Peduncle smooth, 7-15 cm long, spathe 4-5.5 cm; spadix 2.5-3 cm, of which 2.3-2.8 cm are fertile male flowers and only 2-3 mm are female flowers in a single line; stipe 1-2 cm; male flowers: stamens with apical sterile pores; female flowers 5-8 in only one line. INFRUCTESCENCE: Stigma slender; berries yellow-orange, 1.5-2 cm by 1.5-1.7 cm. Rare
This species closely resembles Nephthytis hallei fromGabon and is distinguished from this by the shape of the anterior lobes which are round in N. hallei and by the apical pores of the thecae. The specimens of N. swanei from Ghana have greyish blue appearance and are smaller than those from Ivory Coast.
Very local, on sandy soil, in dense humid forest.