Araceae
Culcasia scandens P.Beauv.
SUMMARY
Plant erect, 0.4-1.5 m, sometimes climbing to 2 m above ground; Aerial roots generally absent; Stem verrucose with finely cratered nipple-like structures, ± rubbery, ca. 3 mm thick when dry; Internodes 1.5-9.5 cm. LEAVES: Petiole flattened on the upper surface, often pressed against the stem, 2.5-5 cm; Sheath spreading, ending in a short, rounded ligule at 2-10 mm from the apex of the petiole; Blade 8.5-15 x 3-7 cm, lanceolate to ovate, not decurrent on the petiole; Base acute to cuneate, rarely rounded, apex ± shortly obliquely acuminate; 6-10 pairs of primary veins, prominent, arcuate, running towards the edge where they are regularly reunited by a collective vein; The pair at the base always ascending; A dense network of secondary veins and sparse and prominent tertiary veins; Presence of numerous translucent glandular dashes, generally very short, sometimes subpunctiform; Network of veinlets rather dense inside each large mesh. INFLORESCENCES terminal, 1-3; Peduncles rather longer than the petioles, 2.5-6 cm; Spathe green, mucronate, 2-3.5 cm; Spadix pale yellow to yellowish-orange, constricted towards the base, often exserted, stipe ca. 4 mm; Ovary unilocular, uniovulate; INFRUCTESCENCE: Fruiting spadix ending in and appendix, the remains of the male portion. Berries red, obovoid to ovoid, 10-12 x 8 mm.