Rhaphidophora monticola (Araceae)
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.
A species of extraordinary appearance immediately recognizable by the texture and dense venation of the leaf laminas and by the remarkably elongated and robust peduncle, the latter being unique in the genus. It is not at all clear to what R. monticola is related.
Philippines (Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Negros). Endemic.
Primary dipterocarp forest, mossy forest.