While trekking in PNG I was keeping an eye out for Hoyas. Trouble was that none were flowering. Quite a few likely contenders had a milky sap, but I'm 'reliably informed' that not all small vines that have a milky sap are Hoyas. Anyway, this is a photo of one contender that had a very nice looking leaf, even if no flowers at the time. It was at a moderate altitude so I'd guess an intermediate grower. Of course, it might turn out it's not a Hoya at all, I'm no expert.
Looks like a Hoya to me, but I'm a novice when it comes to Hoya's. Until joining DG I had no idea there were so many different ones, as I was only familiar with the carnosa.
I bet someone will come along and have an idea of the foliage on that one, and maybe give you a tentative ID.
Sheesh, that's a toughie, just three leaves clearly visible. The leaves have nice veining, and it could be a hoya based on that alone, but it might not be because the leaves aren't growing opposite each other. Nature could have beaten it up a bit though so even that's not a good indicator. Sorry I can't be more help, but its simply not enough to go on. For me anyway.
Christine
I suspected it might be a bit too hard, but it's a very attractive plant whatever it is.
I think its a Hoya......I have one labled png-4 that look like that.
Looks like a hoya to me.... May I send your picture to someone who may be able to ID it from it's leaves/location found? Where were you when you took that shot?
Carol
here is one of my png hoyas
Ric...from your photo, that png hoya looks pinnately veined (one main costa) while the hoya in question has three distinct nerves (tri-nerved)...more like bordenii or blashernazii.....
Carol, interesting point but the bordenii/ blashernazii leaves have more raised veins. The hoya in question appears to have smooth flat leaves.
I can do a high resolution blow-up of the leaf if you like. I had reduced the photo for the web.
Fascinating. I just love it when the experts have a go at a puzzle. I learn so much. I myself compared blashernazii (bless you) and bordenii, and saw the raised veins, but it didn't strike me as the significant difference it obviously is. Pottsii also has tri-nerved leaves, and I just checked a couple, and the veins are also raised. Perhaps this is a consequence of the regular watering we do, as opposed to growing in nature and depending on the rain, whenever it might come.
Christine
A close up of the leaves.
In the closeup, it looks like the plant has opposite leaf arrangement. The opposite leaves are just missing from the plant. Sure looks like a hoya to me. Maybe you should send me a piece of the plant and I'll grow it a while and then I'll let you know what it is when it blooms! (:o) (if it were only that easy!)
Mike
Better still Mike, I'm busy this weekend but I'll give you directions and you can check out all the plants around there yourself.
If you fly to PNG you can get a charter flight to Kokoda. Take the main track heading south through Hoi village and 3 days walking will bring you over the saddle of Mt Bellamy. After another 3 days you should have reached Iorabaiwa village. From there it's only about another 5 hours walk.
Should be on the left hand side of the track (if not it must be the right hand side). If you reach Imita Ridge you've gone too far and have to back track about an hour.
Watch the log bridges, there's lots of them, they're slippery and the rivers swift.
And take a big bag, you're going to see lots of things you'll want to bring back. ;)
By the way, before you get to the Mt Bellamy saddle, keep your eye out for this one. I found it quite intriguing.
Sorry Carol, I missed the query in your post. The directions I gave to Mike (even though tongue-in-cheek) are factual. It was in the vicinity of Ua-Ule Creek at around the 400 metre altitude, roughly half way between Owers Corner and Iorabaiwa village, along the Kokoda Track. The map I have doesn't give a proper grid reference.
Thanks, how often does the Charter thingy fly out? It used to be just once a week!
That funny wierd plant would be one of the imbricate dischidia - when they cross over to another perch to attach to, they dangle in the air and grow around/into/ontopof themselves. I am not sure which one...but you would find it at www.dischidia.com. There are a number of those imbricate ones...
Carol
Why Carol, are you planning on going out? It's a charter flight so it's on demand and not scheduled. But there appears to be enough traffic to keep it running each day. The Track is important to Australians and a lot more are beginning to walk it. That's put a bigger demand on flights to and from Kokoda.
And you're right about the Dischidia. I sent those photos to David Liddle and that's exactly what he said, including that he didn't know which one.
By the way, I just received my Hoya order from him today. They all appear in good order.
I've printed your directions and I am on my way! (I'll have to take a GPS with me so I know exactly where I am.)
I'll give you a call when I get there and we can go for a tall cold one. Although, it's "winter" there so maybe a tall warm one? (:o)
Thanks for posting those pics. It is so cool to see plants insitu.
Mike
So glad you are connected with DL!
Well, I have a dream to go to PNG...not very likely it will be realized. There are SO many hoyas yet unfound there: old collections gone by the wayside. The elusive and coveted H. gigas! Don't know if, at my age, I can take the snakes, humidity, bugs and the danger to women (rape seems to be the National Sport).
I shall have to satisfy myself with tamer climes like Borneo, China(?)...
When David and Ted last went to PNG years ago, they were required to take guards with them...escorts...and pay them alot of $$$$. All for the best, I guess...they came back alive!
Ok, question, where is PNG? It's been driving me crazy not knowing, so I just have to ask!
... My husband just said it must be Papua New Guinea, is he right?
edited to say: I just googled and yeah, that's it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea. Sounds like an interesting place but I've never been brave enough to trek through forests and unknown territory ... especially if there are snakes and other creepy crawlies around!
This message was edited Jun 4, 2009 4:47 PM
It still is a pretty wild place...I would be terrified but....hey...
PNG is a mixed bag. It's a third world country. Port Moresby, the biggest city and the capital, is rife with crime. People from remote areas have drifted in looking for work that just isn't there. With no social support network crime becomes virtually the only means of survival. Lae, on the north coast is the same story on a smaller scale. However, in many other areas it's the opposite. Away from Port Moresby I found people very friendly, everyone would say hello and many would chat with you, whether they spoke English or not. I met so many nice people, especially in Madang. For the most part it's not so much a body guard you need but a local to make sure you don't offend against local customs, or go into unsafe areas. In Madang I wandered around day and night with a friend who'd trekked with me and we never felt unsafe or threatened. Even women said they weren't concerned for their safety day or night.
That is reassuring! When DH was there on his sailboat about 20 years ago...beheadings on the main street and lots of 'paybacks'... Glad to know it is better...LOTs better!
