Scindapsus hederaceus Schott
Family
Araceae
Synonyms
None
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Akar lebang aleh, akar ular (Peninsular). |
| Thailand | Khokiu (Nakhon Si Thammarat). |
| Vietnam | d[aa]y b[as]. |
Geographical Distributions
Scindapsus hederaceus hederaceus occurs in Indo-China, southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java and Borneo; perhaps also in the Philippines.
Description
S. hederaceus is a large climbing herb up to measure about 20 m long. The stem is slender, up to measure about 1 cm thick and with clasping roots.
The leaves are arranged alternate, simple and entire, elliptical-lance-shaped, more or less oblique, with a size of measure about10-16(-21) cm x 3-6(-8.5) cm, obtuse to rounded at the base, acuminate apex, pinnately veined and with marginal vein. The petiole up to measure 9 cm long, winged to near apex, with broad sheath at the base and geniculate at the apex. Stipules are absent.
The inflorescence is a solitary, with a size of measure about (2.5-)4-7 cm long of cylindrical spadix and enclosed by a fusiform to boat-shaped yellowish-green in colour of spathe which is measuring 4.5-8 cm long. The flowers are bisexual and without perianth. Stamens are 4. The ovary is superior, 1-celled, 4-6-angular and with a well-developed stylar region.
The fruit is a red in colour of berry, caducous stylar region when mature and with 1-seeded.
The seed is subreniform, compressed and thick testa while the endosperm is present.
Ecology / Cultivation
S. hederaceus occurs in lowland and lower montane forests up to 1500 m altitude. It climbs on tree trunks, sometimes also on rocks, and is also found in secondary forest and thickets, and even on wayside trees.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12 (3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3.
