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Araceae
Bucephalandra muluensis (M. Hotta) S. Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
Nomenclature
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Family: AraceaeGenus: Bucephalandra
SUMMARY
Small obligate rheophytic herbs to 10 cm tall. Stem initially erect, later creeping with active portion sub-erect, c. 5 mm in diam. Leaves several together; petiole 2 - 3 cm long × c. 1.5 mm in diam., adaxially canaliculate, bright green, sheathing at extreme base, wings extended into a very narrowly triangular ligular portion to 1 cm long; blade ovate to broadly elliptic, 2 - 4 cm long × 1.5 - 2 cm wide, thinly coriaceous, weakly glossy bright green, slightly paler abaxially, base rounded to rounded-cuneate, apex acute and apiculate for c. 2 mm, margin flat; midrib abaxially and adaxially sharply prominent; primary lateral veins 3 or 4 on each side, diverging at c. 40° and running to a weak marginal vein; interprimary veins very weak; all other venation obscure. Inflorescence(s) solitary to up to 3 together interspersed with prophylls; peduncle exceeding petioles, c. 4 cm long, sub-terete, pale green. Spathe broadly ovate, not constricted, c. 3 cm long; lower spathe funnel-form, yellowish green, persistent; limb inflating and gaping distally at pistillate anthesis, then deliquescent-caducous during staminate anthesis, glistening white, apiculate for c. 2 mm, apiculum green. Spadix 1.3 - 1.5 cm long; pistillate zone c. 3 mm long × c. 1.5 mm in diam., with c. 3 spirals of pistils; pistils rhombic-globose, c. 0.4 mm in diam., bright green; stigma sessile, umbonate, c. 2/3 diameter of ovary, papillate at anthesis; pistillodes 2 - 4 at base of pistillate zone, bottle-shaped, c. 0.35 mm long., white, tip green; interstice with c. 2 rows of scale-like staminodes, these 1 - 2 mm long × 0.8 - 1.5 mm wide, spathulate, initially erect, then spreading, initially matte white, later (post-anthesis) becoming green and persisting to cover developing fruit; staminate zone c. 3 mm long × c. 2 mm in diam., consisting of c. 4 rows of flowers; staminate flowers medium yellow; stamen comparatively large, c. 1 mm across; filament short, slender; connective slender, prismatic; thecae inserted ventrally, ellipsoid, c. 1 mm long × c. 0.4 mm wide, smooth; thecae horns sub-equalling associated theca, setaceous, spreading; appendix ellipsoid, basally somewhat abruptly transitioning to staminate flower zone, 7 - 9 mm long × 3 - 4 mm in diam., medium yellow; appendix staminodes individually well-demarcated, obpyramidal, 0.5 - 1 mm in diam., upper surface brain-like with a central impression. Fruiting spathe funnel-form, c. 1 cm in diam., with shield shaped staminodes persistent, turning green, spent distal part of spadix falling; berry depressed globose, 1 - 1.8 mm long × 1 - 1.5 mm in diam., with numerous seeds, berries forming a hemispherical cluster protected by persistent staminodes, later pushed off and falling to reveal mature fruits.