Nephthytis afzelii var. graboensis (Araceae)
The new variety, N. afzelii var. graboensis, differs mainly by the whitish, sterile male flowers between the female zone and the fertile male zone of the spadix. The fertile male flowers are more of less greenish (especially when young) and the sterile male flowers are also well distinguished by the whitish colour. The spathe is upright at first and becomes reflexed later, 6-7 cm long and ca. 2cm wide, green (as in all other known species). Further, the petioles and the peduncle are laxely scattered with small spines. Usually the petioles and peduncles are smooth in N.afzelii (and the other species of this genus), but there are also populations of the typical variety in the Ivory coast where the petioles and the peduncles are scattered with small spines. The presence of such spines is a further evidence that the genus Nephthytis is closely related to the genus Anchomanes Schott. The female and male flowers of the spadix are always contiguous in N.afzelii var. afzelii and this is also the case in all other known species of this genus.