11. Rhaphidophora Hassk., Flora 25(2, Beibl.): 11 (1842).
By: Himanchal T. Magar & Mohan Siwakoti
Taxon Description
Large epiphytic or epilithic lianas. Stems thick, rooting. Leaves simple, leaf blade symmetric or asymmetric, entire in young plants, soon becoming more or less pinnately dissected, commonly coriaceous, petioles with pulvini at base and apex. Spathe deciduous, coriaceous. Spadix sessile, cylindric. Flowers bisexual, lacking perianth. Stamens 4, filaments flat, 2-loculed, apex free, attached basally, dehiscing laterally. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric, apex truncate or dome-shaped, 1-loculed, ovules many, parietal, stigma sessile or raised. Fruit each with numerous small, straight seeds. Seeds small, oblong to reniform (Flora of China).
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 100 species. Two species in Nepal.
Key to Species
1a Leaf blade large, 40–100 X 25–64 cm. Pinna more than 12 per side ………….……….……..….…….. 1. R. decursiva
b Leaf blade small, 12–24 X 8–20 cm. Pinna 2–5 per side ……..………………….……….……….……….……… 2. R. glauca
1. Rhaphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) Schott; Bonplandia 5: 45 (1857).
Pothos decursivus Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1: 456 (1820); Monstera decursiva (Roxb.) Schott; Scindapsus decursivus (Roxb.) Schott.
Large climber or very robust herbs, ca. 20 m or more. Stems up to 4 cm diam., twisted, rooting from nodes, internodes up to 2 cm. Leaves scattered, juvenile leaves deeply split, mature leaves pinnate, pinnae more than 12 on each side, ascending obliquely, each leaf foliage separated by 5-7 cataphyll-bearing nodes, petioles 27–30 cm, green, petiolar sheath covering ca. 2/3 of the petiole; leaf blade oblong, 40–100 X 25–64 cm, green adaxially, pale green abaxially, base subcordate (sinuses almost reaching midrib), apex obtuse. Peduncles green, stout, ca. 19 cm. Spathe yellow, 15–18 X 10–13 cm; limb oblong-ovate, incurved, apex acute. Spadix shorter than spathe, sessile, grayish green, 19–23 X 3–5 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1100–2000 m.
Ecology: Occurs in dense forest.
Flowering: August–November. Fruiting: August–November.
2. Rhaphidophora glauca (Wall.) Schott, Bonplandia. 5:45(1857).
Pothos glaucus Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 45 (1831); Pothos wallichii Steud.; Scindapsus glaucus (Wall.) Schott.
Climbing herbs up to 10 m. Stems 1–1.5 cm diam., rooting from nodes, internodes elongated. Leaves scattered, asymmetrically pinnately dissected, 2–5 pinnae on each side, ascending obliquely, each node with one foliage leaf, with exception of proximal node, petioles 8–25 cm, sheath reaching base of a leaf; leaf blade ovate, 12–24 X 8–20 cm, dull green adaxially, glaucous green abaxially, base truncate to shallowly cordate, apex acuminate. Peduncles green, spreading, apically curved, 8–17 cm. Spathe pale yellow, waxy, 8–14 X 3–9 cm; limb oblong-ovate, widely open, apex acuminate. Spadix shorter than spathe, sessile, dull off-white, 6–7 X 0.8–1.5 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 400–1800 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on mossy evergreen Castanopsis forest, adhering to the rock, shady place, west facing slope.
Flowering: September –May. Fruiting: September–May.
Whole plant is used in medicine. Plant paste is used to treat wounds (Manandhar 2000, 2002).