AMORPHOPHALLUS MEKONGENSIS

PROTOLOGUE: Amorphophallus mekongensis Engl. & Gehrm., published in Pflanzenr., IV, 23C: 96 (1911). The protologue is reproduced below.

DISTRIBUTION: Indo-China: Laos, Vietnam.

DISTRIBUTION NOTE: The type was collected by Harmand between the Mekong and Hue in 1877 (herbarium L. Pierre).².

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

Translated from protologue: Tuber 2.5 cm across, globose. Petiole of the leaf about 1.5 dm long, slender; lamina trisect, the primary segments pedately divided, the secondary segments 0.6-1.5 dm long and 3-5.5 cm wide, oblong, acuminate, rather long-stalked, the collective vein about 4 mm from the margin.²

INFLORESCENCE:

Translated from protologue: Peduncle slender, elongate, 2.9-3.6 dm long. Spathe about 1.2 dm long, 4-5 cm wide, oblong-lanceolate, acute, convolute below. Spadix a little shorter than the spathe; female inflorescence about 1.7 cm long, male about 6 cm long and 0.9 cm thick; appendix 2.2-2.7 cm long, 1 cm thick, oblong, obtuse. Anthers of the stamens 1 mm long, sessile. Pistils 2 mm long; style none; stigma 1 mm long, thick, conoid.²

ETYMOLOGY:

Named for the Mekong River, along whose middle reaches the type was collected; Engler and Gehrmann described the species in 1911 from Harmand's 1877 gathering.²

NOTES:

1. Amorphophallus mekongensis remains known principally from the original material: Harmand's collection made between the Mekong and Hue in September 1877, described by Engler and Gehrmann more than thirty years later.²

REFERENCES:

1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Amorphophallus mekongensis Engl. & Gehrm.

2. Pflanzenr., IV, 23C: 96 (1911) — protologue.