Rare Exotic Tropical Plant Discovered on Mindoro Island
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Photo courtesy Bernadette Villaluz
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UPDATED 11/06/2009
The rare exotic tropical plant has been identified: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Araceae). Sometimes known as the “elephant foot yam” or “corpse plant” (because of its short lived but foul smell upon flowering). Apparently the Amorphophallus paeoniifolius flower as photographed was the first stage of a process wherein the squashed “flower” and surrounding leaf eventually fall off and the stem continues to grow to allow developing seeds the greatest chance of dispersal once ripe.
Although not exceptionally rare the plant is exotic and sought-after by those who like to have obscure plants in their gardens. The flower originates from a large tuba underground and only flowers once mature, and then only for four or five days, so seeing one in the wild is very rare.
This specimen was found along the rainforest trail that leads to the waterfalls near Bulalacao town, Oriental Mindoro, on 14th May, 2009. If you want the chance of seeing it in bloom next year then you will need a guide to take you along the trail. Contact the Municipal Tourism Office of Bulalacao (+63 928 503-3327) for this and other information about Bulalacao or, check out the Bulalacao webcam on MyCam-Asia.tv’s website, which contains more rare and exotic destinations.
Special thanks to Bruce G. Baldwin (The Botanical Society of America), Paul Licht (Berkeley University, CA) and Judy Secrest’s team (Botanical Research Institute of Texas), who assisted us in identifying the plant, something the University of the Philippines (Los Baños), and The Botanical Gardens (Kew, London) seemed unable to achieve.
ORIGINAL STORY: As sometimes happens, one comes across the rare and the exotic fruits of Mother Nature’s bounty when one least expects it. One of our readers snapped this photograph of a rare exotic tropical plant, discovered on Mindoro Island while chasing waterfalls in the rain forest.
The plant features a single complete leaf with ruffles towards the edge; the leaf is about 50cm in overall circumference with a center "cup", out of which protrudes a "head" that stands approximately 40cm above the base; the plant was found along a rainforest trail on a South facing slope; the "head" appears as if it may have once been inflated and may be now collapsed; it was seen on the edge of a small open area with little direct forest cover, so receives fairly good sunlight; there was no significant fragrance associated with the plant reported.
We have contacted the Horticultural Society of the University of the Philippines, in Los Baños, and The Botanical Gardens at Kew, in London, but they have failed to identify the plant species. We therefore suspect that it may be an extremely rare and possibly endangered species of flora.
In order to ensure the plant’s protection, at least until we have the chance to identify and or describe it fully, we are keeping its exact location a secret.
If you know what this plant is or can put us in touch with someone who may know, please can you email to GetWet Philippines Rare Exotic Tropical Plant.