AMORPHOPHALLUS GRACILIS

PROTOLOGUE: Amorphophallus gracilis Engl., published in Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 1: 183 (1880). The protologue is reproduced below.

DISTRIBUTION: E. Sumatera: Sumatra.

DISTRIBUTION NOTE: Indonesia, West Sumatra Province, Tanah Datar Regency.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

From protologue: Leaf blade trisect; primary divisions twice dichotomously divided, the tertiary divisions pinnatisect; ultimate segments elongate-lanceolate, long and narrowly acuminate, unequal at the base, one side decurrent. Peduncle elongate. Spathe oblong, convolute below. Spadix sessile, about three-quarters the length of the spathe.

INFLORESCENCE:

From protologue: Female inflorescence approximately as long as the male inflorescence; appendix club-shaped and about three times longer than the male inflorescence. Ovaries shortly obovoid, crowned by a short style bearing a small stigma. Stamens banded at the apex between the thecae; the thecae about half the length of the stamen.

ECOLOGY:

360m elevation

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin gracilis, “slender” or “graceful,” likely referring to the species’ comparatively delicate proportions, particularly its narrow, elongate leaf segments and slender overall habit.

NOTES:

1. Type locality: Indonesia, West Sumatra Province, Tanah Datar Regency, X Koto District, Lembah Anai (historical Ajer Mantjoer/Air Mancur), ca. 360 m.

REFERENCES:

1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Amorphophallus gracilis Engl.

2. Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 1: 183 (1880) — protologue.