AMORPHOPHALLUS YUNNANENSIS
PROTOLOGUE: Amorphophallus yunnanensis Engl., published in Pflanzenr., IV, 23C: 109 (1911).
Amorphophallus yunnanensis Engl. n. sp., Das Pflanzenreich IV.23C: 109 (1911). Cataphylla late linearia, 1,5-3 dm longa et usque 3 cm lata. Pedunculus 2-2,5 dm longus. Spatha cymbiformis livido-purpurascens 1,8 dm longa, 6-8 cm lata. Spadicis inflorescentia feminea 1,5 cm longa et crassa, mascula paullum brevior et paullum crassior, appendix breviter et obtuse conoidea 4 cm longa et inferne 1,5 cm crassa. Ovaria subglobosa in stilum brevissimum stigmate capitato coronatum contracta. Flores masculi densissime congesti. Staminum filamenta brevissima, antherae transverse subquadratae. Monsungebiet, Nordwestmalayische Provinz: Tropisches Yünnan: Feuchte Plätze in Misch- und Coniferenwäldern am Ostabhang des Tali-Range (25° 40' N.) um 2600 m ü. M. (G. Forrest n. 4848. - Blühend im Juni 1906 - Herb. Edinburgh).
SYNONYMS:
HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS: Amorphophallus kerrii N.E.Br. in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1912: 43 (1912)
DISTRIBUTION: S. China (Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou) to N. Indo-China: China South-Central, China Southeast, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam.
DISTRIBUTION NOTE: iNaturalist: Yunnan.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION:
Translated from protologue: Cataphylls broadly linear, 1.5-3 dm long and up to 3 cm wide. The leaf is not described.²
INFLORESCENCE:
Translated from protologue: Peduncle 2-2.5 dm long. Spathe boat-shaped, livid purplish, 1.8 dm long and 6-8 cm wide. Female inflorescence of the spadix 1.5 cm long and as thick, the male a little shorter and a little thicker; appendix shortly and bluntly conoid, 4 cm long and 1.5 cm thick below. Ovaries subglobose, contracted into a very short style crowned by a capitate stigma. Male flowers very densely congested. Filaments of the stamens very short; anthers transversely nearly square.²
ECOLOGY:
Found in damp places in mixed and coniferous forest on the eastern slope of the Tali range, at about 2600 m. It was gathered in flower in June.²
PROPAGATION:
Juniper Level Botanic Garden's four trials with this species have yielded mixed results, ranging from 100% rooting from mid-September cuttings to 0% on two attempts with early October and early September cuttings. Juniper Level Botanic Garden attributes the failure in early September was either due to poor quality cuttings or improper care while rooting.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Yunnan, southwestern China, combined with the Latin geographical suffix-ensis, “from” or “of,” literally “from Yunnan.” Although named for Yunnan, the species has a broader montane distribution extending into northern Thailand and northern Vietnam.
NOTES:
1. Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery found that the plants the supplier Chen Yi sent in 2000 as Amorphophallus stipitatus (A-101/00) were Amorphophallus yunnanensis.⁷ He had earlier reported that all plants purchased from Chen Yi under that name so far had proved to be either Amorphophallus konjac or Amorphophallus yunnanensis.⁸ In 2000 Wilbert Hetterscheid likewise thought the material sold under that name most likely Amorphophallus yunnanensis, while noting that the type material of Amorphophallus stipitatus was destroyed and that confirmation needed a flowering specimen.⁹
HYBRIDS:
Amorphophallus dunnii × Amorphophallus yunnanensis
Amorphophallus henryi × Amorphophallus yunnanensis
Amorphophallus putii × Amorphophallus yunnanensis
REFERENCES:
1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Amorphophallus yunnanensis Engl.
2. Pflanzenr., IV, 23C: 109 (1911) — protologue.
3. Alan Galloway — Amorphophallus yunnanensis, alangallowaybotanicals.com.
5. Propagation of Amorphophallus by Leaf Petiole Cuttings — Juniper Level Botanic Garden
6. iNaturalist: Amorphophallus yunnanensis
7. Aroid-L mailing list, Tony Avent, February 15th, 2001
8. Aroid-L mailing list, Tony Avent, June 9th, 2000
9. Aroid-L mailing list, Wilbert Hetterscheid, June 9th, 2000