|
Terrestrial, hemiepiphytic or epilithic shrub. Stem robust, woody, internodes 0.3-0.8 x 8-20 cm, covered by robust (thorn-like) and sparse intravaginal squamules, 8-12 x 3-6 mm, Petioles 70-80 x 2-2.3 cm, canaliculate adaxially,. Leaf blade bipinnatilobed 60- 72 x 50- 56 cm, ovate-sagittate to ovate- cordate in outline, anterior division 40-48 x 50-56 cm, lobes 6-7 per side, each one also pinnatilobed, secondary nerves arising in angle of 60-70°, sinuses between lobes 2-4 cm from midrib, apex acuminate, posterior divisions 16-18 x 50- 56 cm, acroscopic lobes 3-4, basiscopic lobes 2- 3, basal rib denuded for 3.5-4 cm. Inflorescence usually solitary. Peduncle 15-17 x 1-1.5 cm. Spathe 16-18 X 4-11 cm, green outside, white inside. Spadix 15 x 3 cm, fertile male portion 4.5-5 x 1.2-1.5 cm, sterile male portion 6-7 x 2-2.5 cm, female portion 3.6-4 x 2.5-3 cm. Male flowers prismatic, 2-3 x 0.5-0.6 mm, staminodes clavate, 3-5 x 0.8-1 mm, female flowers 4-5 x 2.3 mm. Berries immature 3-4 x 3- 5 mm, ripe fruits not seen.
Stem erect, arborescent, covered with the scars of fallen leaves, with robust axillary prickles.
LEAVES: Petioles flattened on the upper side, 62 cm long, 2.5 cm thick; blade triangular-sagittate in outline, bipinnatipartite, primary lateral divisions linear-lanceolate, acute, terminal division 3-furcate at the front, 2-furcate at the back; primary lateral veins distinctly prominent on both sides ('utrique').
INFLORESCENCE: Peduncle 9 cm long. Spathe thick, tube green 11-15 cm long; blade externally green, internally white, ovate cucullate, cuspidate, 8-9 cm long, barely distinct. Spadix: female zone 2.7-4 cm long, dorsally adnate to the spathe almost up to halfway; sterile male zone ('6-5-10') cm long, fertile zone 8.5-10 cm long. Pistils truncate from above, 8-10 locular, ovules 6-9 per locule, bi-tri-seriate; stigma lobes not derived from the margin; Staminodes clavate, 6 mm long.
Dari: Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 15: 94 (1957)
|
