Tropicals & Tender Perennials: What is this?, 0 by ExoticRainforest

ExoticRainforest wrote:
You are likely very correct.

However, few people have ever seen the fully adult form of Cercestis mirabilis as it grows in Gabon, Africa. I spent a good deal of time last summer trading information with Dr. Josef Bogner who is one of the authors of the scientific text The Genera of Aracea. Dr, Bogner is one of the few scientists that has traveled deep into the rain forest of Gabon and surrounding countries to study Cercestis mirabilis and the related genus Rhekotophyllum. The photo attached is one of his photos.

He informed me that as the plant continues to climb it eventually looses all the pattern and becomes totally green. In order to morph the plant must be allowed to climb and it often reaches 20 meters.

I doubt your plant is the same as shown in Dr. Bogner's photos but at least it does closely mimic the shape of your plant. There are other related species that are similar in appearance, Many aroids morph as they mature and the adult leaves look nothing like the juvenile plants we grow. Despite the fact many of us think we are growing the adult form of Cercestis marabilis no one I've ever found in the United States has the adult form.

We discussed this at length last year on the International Aroid Soceity forum Aroid l and everyone that posted "adult" leaves only had juvenile plants according to the botanists.

If you can get photos of the fully grown form of your friend's plant I will gladly have a number of aroid botanists take a look.

Steve

This message was edited Jun 4, 2010 7:27 PM