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Araceae
Rhaphidophora monticola K.Krause
SUMMARY
Very robust, pachycaul, homeophyllous liane to 15 m; seedling stage and pre-adult plants not observed; LEAVES: adult shoot architecture comprised of elongated, clinging, physiognomically monopodial, densely leafy, non-flowering (always?) stems and clinging, sympodial, densely leafy, flowering stems; stems smooth, with cataphylls and prophylls degrading into robust simple fibres and then falling quickly, internodes to 15 x 5 cm, separated by large straight to slightly oblique leaf scars; flagellate foraging stem not observed; roots not observed; leaves spiro-distichous; cataphylls and prophylls subcoriaceous, degrading into robust simple fibres and then falling; petiole deeply canaliculate, 30-108 x 1.4-4.5 cm, smooth for the most part apical and basal geniculi very large but not especially prominent; petiolar sheath very prominent, extending to between c. 6 cm from or reaching the apical geniculum in largest leaves, long-persistent, eventually falling to leave a large, corky scar; lamina entire, ovate to oblong-ovate, 24-80 x 14-41 cm, stiffly coriaceous to subsucculent, semi-glossy above, matte beneath, drying pale yellow-brown like all other vegetative parts, base broadly rounded to shallowly cordate, apex acute to acuminate with a stout apical tubule; midrib very prominently raised and abaxially, ± impressed adaxially; primary venation densely pinnate, raised abaxially and adaxially; interprimaries parallel to primaries, more identically prominent; secondary venation reticulate, barely visible; INFLORESCENCE subtended by a partially developed foliage leaf large cataphylls; peduncle terete, exceptionally long, 30-117 x 1.5-2 cm; spathe slender canoe-shaped, very stoutly beaked, 21-32.5 x 3.5-5 cm, stiffly thin-fleshy, dull greenish white to yellowish green, slightly tinged purple on the inside surface, persistent though maturation of fruit; spadix slender tapering-cylindrical, stipitate but stipe long decurrent (to 6 cm) on peduncle/spathe insertion, 17-22 x 1.3-1.5 cm, greenish, later pale yellow; stylar region moderately developed, rhombohexagonal, 1-2 x 1-1.5 mm, truncate; stigma vertically elongated to (lowermost pistils) punctiform, slightly raised at anthesis, c. 0.25 mm diam.; anthers not exserted at anthesis; INFRUCTESCENCE up to 28 x 3 cm.