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Forest Pothos (Epipremnum silvaticum)
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Epipremnum silvaticum: The Rare Swamp Liana of Sumatra
Climbing high into the humid canopy of Sumatra, Epipremnum silvaticum clings to host trees using aerial roots within its native swamp forest habitat. First described in 1920 by Cornelis Alderwerelt van Rosenburgh, its scientific name highlights its forest-dwelling nature. It relies on aerial roots to scale trees, adapting to the wet, high-humidity conditions of its native Indonesian habitat.
Taxonomy
- ∟ царство Plantae
- ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
- ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
- ∟ Angiosperms
- ∟ monocots
- ∟ order Alismatales (Water plantain order)
- ∟ family Araceae (Arum family)
- ∟ subfamily Monsteroideae
- ∟ genus Epipremnum (Pothos)
- ∟ species Epipremnum silvaticum (Forest Pothos)
Morphology
Epipremnum silvaticum is a slender perennial evergreen climber that reaches up to 6 meters in height. The adult stem measures 5 to 10 millimeters in diameter, featuring short internodes of 0.5 to 2 centimeters marked by distinct leaf scars.
The foliar and reproductive characteristics include:
- Leaves: Asymmetrical, lanceolate, and entire blades measuring 10–18 centimeters long by 3.5–6 centimeters wide, with petioles of 3–6 centimeters that form a sheath. Cataphylls and prophylls dry and shed rapidly.
- Inflorescence: A single, almost sessile spadix measuring approximately 17.5 by 5–7.5 millimeters on a short 1-centimeter peduncle. The spathe remains undocumented in botanical literature.
- Flowers & Seeds: Bisexual flowers 4–8 millimeters in diameter with a trapezoidal style, producing berries containing small seeds measuring roughly 3 by 4 millimeters.
Interesting facts
The species is known primarily from its type locality in Sumatra, making it an exceptionally rare find for botanists. The specific epithet silvaticum is derived from Latin, meaning "belonging to the forest," which points directly to its wild habitat.
Geography of distribution
- Indonesia (Sumatra)
Sources
- POWO: Plants of the World Online (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
- WFO: World Flora Online Database
- GBIF: Global Biodiversity Information Facility
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