AMORPHOPHALLUS GLOSSOPHYLLUS

PROTOLOGUE:Amorphophallus glossophyllus Hett., published in Blumea 39: 257(1994).

Ab Amorphophallo brevispatho Gagnep. in foliolis nitidissimis dilute viridibus, staminibus longioribus, appendice obtuso differt. — Typus: Hetterscheid H.A.M. 242-T (L holo; spirit coll.), 9-i-1994, cult. Hort. Bot. Leiden ex Central Vietnam, Gialai-Kontum Prov., northern part of Tay Nguyen Plateau (orig. coll. N. Arnautov 87-77).

DISTRIBUTION: Vietnam: Vietnam.

DISTRIBUTION NOTE: Central Vietnam, northern Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên), Quảng Ngãi and Gia Lai.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

Tuber irregularly elongate, ca. 13 cm long, ca. 7 cm in diam. at the top, whitish with a pale brownish flush, basal part much branched, the branches gradually developing into new tubers. Leaf solitary; petiole ca. 45 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam., smooth, uniformly glossy pale green; lamina much branched, ca. 70 cm in diam.; leaflets elliptic-lanceolate or lanceolate, 9–22 cm long, 4.5–6 cm in diam., moderately coriaceous, acuminate, base shortly or very long-decurrent, upper surface strongly glossy mid-green.

INFLORESCENCE:

Inflorescence solitary, long-peduncled; peduncle as petiole, 40–60 cm long, 0.8–1.7 cm in diam.; spathe circular, oval or transversely oval, 6.5–11 cm long, 6.5–13 cm in diam., erect, obtuse, base and limb hardly differentiated, only basal 1.5 cm convolute, outside uniformly pale green with slightly darker veins, inside as outside, margin whitish, base within with numerous, small whitish green warts; spadix sessile, much longer than spathe, 13–21 cm long.

PROPAGATION:

Cuttings were only attempted in early November, with a success rate of 5.6%. We would expect higher rooting percentages with early summer cuttings.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek glōssa, “tongue,” and phyllon, “leaf,” referring to the elongate, tongue-like shape of the leaflets.

NOTES:

1. Amorphophallus glossophyllus resembles Amorphophallus brevispathus (Thailand) but differs in the glossy and much paler green leaflets, a thicker, obtuse appendix and longer stamens. Both species share the unique character of fused pores. Amorphophallus glossophyllus is remarkable for the highly glossy leaf that has a highly ornamental effect.

2.Of easy cultivation in a fertile soil, that may contain loam. The tuber can be stored dry during resting.

REFERENCES:

1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Amorphophallus glossophyllus Hett.

2. Blumea 39: 257(1994) — protologue.

3. Alan Galloway — Amorphophallus glossophyllus, alangallowaybotanicals.com.

4. Aroideana 19 (1996):P7 - 131

5. Propagation of Amorphophallus by Leaf Petiole Cuttings — Juniper Level Botanic Garden