AMORPHOPHALLUS ELEGANS
PROTOLOGUE:Amorphophallus elegans Ridl., published in Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 86: 310 (1922). The protologue is reproduced below.
SYNONYMS:
OTHER NAMES: Thai: Buk riao (บุกเรียว)(Peninsular).
DISTRIBUTION: S. Pen. Thailand to Pen. Malaysia: Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand.
DISTRIBUTION NOTE: Peninsular Malaysia: Bukit Tangga mountain-pass and forest area in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on the old Seremban–Kuala Klawang route, now Federal Route 86. The pass lies right around the Seremban–Jelebu district boundary, connecting Pantai on the Seremban side with Ulu Klawang/Jelebu on the east - ca. 2.85° N, 102.00° E. Thailand: Krabi, Phatthalung.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION:
Tuber small, flattened, globose, 3 in. through. Leaf, petiole slender mottled grey green, 1 to 2 feet tall, limb green, of 3 branches, outer pair rebranched; petiolules 3 inches long, leaflets 3 to 4 oblong, long cuspidate, base cuneate inequilateral, nerves 11 pairs, secondary nerves nearly as conspicuous, all joining an intramarginal nerve, 6 in. long, 1.5 in. wide, cusp 1 in. long; secondary petiolules.12 in. long.
INFLORESCENCE:
Peduncle slender, 3 feet tall, mottled grey green, and pink with scattered light green blotches. Spathe narrow lanceolate acute, 5 in. long, pale green with small dark green blotches. Female portion of spike.5 in. long, green with yellow sessile stigmas. Male portion cylindric, 3 in. Stamens white; anther-cells pink. Appendage rugose cylindric, 4 in. long, white.
ECOLOGY:
Found in evergreen forests on limestone mountains or at lower altitudes, ca. 100-300 m (probably also higher)
DISTRIBUTION MAPS:
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin elegans, “elegant” or “graceful,” likely referring to the species’ slender, refined habit.
NOTES:
1. Amorphophallus elegans resembles Amorphophallus variabilis (Java) but differs from the latter in having the spathe limb not suddenly narrowed, the spathe base interior not verrucate but smooth or furrowed, a non-lobate stigma, leaves with unwinged rachises and some of the leaflets petiolulate.
REFERENCES:
1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Amorphophallus elegans Ridl.
2. Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 86: 310 (1922) — protologue.
3. Alan Galloway — Amorphophallus elegans, alangallowaybotanicals.com.
Additional photos by Cheongweei Gan and Aloony