Rhaphidophora philippinensis (Araceae)
Robust, semipachycaul homeophyllous liane to unknown ultimate height; seedling stage & pre-adult plants not observed; LEAVES: adult shoot architecture comprised of elongated, clinging, physiognomically monopodial, leafy, non-flowering stems and stout, elaborated free, sympodial, densely leafy, flowering stems; stems smooth, slightly terete in cross-section, with very slight cataphyll remains at the apices of active shoots but mostly naked, internodes to 2-4.5 x 1cm on free shoots, separated by large very slightly oblique leaf scars; flagellate foraging stems not observed; roots not observed; leaves spiro-distichous, laminas descending; cataphylls and prophylls large and conspicuous, membranous, very quickly drying and mostly falling although patchy remains sometimes present at active shoot apices; petiole channelled adaxially, 10-22.5 x 0.3-0.5 cm, smooth, apical and basal genicula poorly defined; petiolar sheath prominent, extending to the apical geniculum, swiftly drying and soon falling ± whole to leave a conspicuous scar extending around the apical geniculum; lamina entire, ovate, slightly to rather markedly oblique, 13-33 x 5.5-18 cm, very coriaceous, dull olive green above, yellow green below, base broadly rounded to subtruncate to sub-cordate, apex strongly recurved, acuminate to with a short, stout apiculate tubule; midrib wide, prominently raised abaxially, especially proximally, sunken adaxially; primary venation densely pinnate abaxially and scattered-pinnate abaxially, raised on both surfaces; interprimaries parallel to primaries and less prominent abaxially, as prominent as primary laterals adaxially, giving the leaf a densely pinnate appearance abaxially; secondary venation visible as a very faint weak reticulum in dried specimens; INFLORESCENCE solitary; peduncle stout, slightly compressed-cylindric, 14 x 1.5 cm; spathe not observed; spadix stoutly cylindrical, sessile, inserted very strongly-obliquely on peduncle, 15 x 2 cm; stylar region weakly angled, often appearing almost circular, 0.4-0.5 x 0.4-0.5 mm, slightly conical, truncate; stigma circular, prominently raised, almost obscuring the top of the style, c. 0.4 mm diam.; anthers not exserted at anthesis; INFRUCTESCENCE not observed.
Immediately recognizable by the large, circular, raised stigma almost concealing the stylar region and by the prominently decurrent spadix. Confusion is possible with R. monticola which has similar leaf lamina texture and venation but may be readily distinguished by flowering on clinging stems, in the flat stigmas and in drying pale yellow-brown.
Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao, Negros, Samar). Endemic.
Secondary dipterocarp forest, damp primary forest