Thank you Usha di for explaining at length, I was unaware of this simple and easy way of sharing links rather than the whole write up . You may come across this in many of initial posts. I request members to pardon me for that. It was out of sheer ignorance. The intention was to share what I know with other members. I have adopted this method of sharing links after I learned about it in my subsequent posts.
On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 3:39 AM, Ushadi micromini <microminipho...@gmail.com > wrote: > Googling... i found within a minute or less that you copy pasted this > whole write up from this one link... > > http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Rhaphidophora%20tetraspema%20pc.html > but you did not mention it... > > its a must .... ethics of copyright makes it mandatory to provide a > complete citation of the origin if one uses even a part of their write > up... > > ... > my suggestion to you is read a lot, make notes and then synthesize the > info... > and even then give the links... the multiple links for people's > information... > > please do it that way... > Usha di > > ===== > > > > > On Sep 17, 11:43 am, Madhuri Raut <itii...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Thank you Anupamji > > On the net I found the following interesting info about this plant > > > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Hook. f. > > > > Incorrectly as Amydrium tetrasperma > > > > Common names: Amydrium 'Ginnie', Philodendron "Ginny", Mini monstera, > > > > Miniature monstera, Philodendron imbe Ginny, Epipremnum "Ginny" > > > > Mini split-leaf Philodendron > > > > This species is not a Philodendron, Monstera, Epipremnum nor Amydrium > > species > > > > A member of the aroid tribe Monstereae, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a > > native of Thailand and Malaysia that was identified to science in 1893. > Based > > on the information available, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is somewhat more > > closely related to the genus Monstera than Philodendron as some > discussions > > on the internet attempt to imply. However, neither genus is closely > > related. Aroid expert Julius Boos explains, "The genus Monstera and all > its > > relatives produce blooms with a bisexual spadix ,male and female flowers > > throughout the length of the spadix, while the Philodendrons and their > > relatives Homolamena and Furtadoa produce blooms with a unisexual spadix > > with female flowers at its base with sterile and male flowers above the > > female zone, which makes them very far apart and not close relatives even > > though they may appear alike!" > > > > Neither Philodendron nor Monstera species are found naturally outside > > Central America, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean since they are > > NeoTropical species. The NeoTropics is defined as Mexico, Central > America, > > South America, the Caribbean and the southern tip of Florida. The genus > > Rhaphidophora is not found naturally in North or South America but would > > then be a SE Asian equivalent with three Asian relatives including > members > > of the genera Epipremnum, Amydrium, and Scindapsus. > > > > Postings can be found on the internet as well as in the offerings of > > internet plant sellers identifying this species as Amydrium tetrasperma, > > Amydrium 'Ginnie', Philodendron "Ginnie", Philodendron imbe "Ginny", and > > Epipremnum "Ginny". All are scientifically incorrect. The use of single > > quotes implies a registered cultivar which also appears to be > > incorrect. Numerous > > discussions have been held on aroid forums regarding some of these names, > > and they are still commonly used on sites such as eBay. A variegated > form > > is commonly available but the variegation is not natural in this species > and > > is reported to have been induced by a chemical process during the tissue > > culture process. (see photo, below) Growers have reported the > variegations > > vanishes as the plant grows since the chemicals eventually wear off. > > > > Tissue culture (known as TC) is the asexual propagation of fragments of a > > suitable parent plant in order to produce identical clones of it in large > > quantity. In the cells of the parent are grown in a laboratory in > nutrient > > solutions until they form a mass of tissue. These tissues then get > different > > chemicals to induce roots and leaves. Once developed the tiny plants are > > transplanted into a potting medium and finally grown by the commercial > plant > > growing industry. > > > > On several of the popular garden websites plant collectors repeatedly > refer > > to R. tetrasperma as a miniature form, or "mini" Monstera deliciosa > while > > others continue to insist it is a form of Epipremnum. This note from > expert > > aroid grower Michael Mattlage appears to sum up the correct conclusion, > "I > > know there was some debate a while back on whether the plant labeled > > Amydrium, Philodendron, etc. etc. 'Ginny' was either a form of the > variable > > Epipremnum pinnatum or Rhaphidophora tetrasperma. The experts finally > > agreed with the later." As indicated by Michael, the species does also > > appear similar to the adult form of Epipremnum pinnatum, but is only a > > related species. > > > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is not a miniature form of Monstera and in > > February, 2007 aroid botanist Peter Boyce responded with this answer to a > > question posted regarding the "miniature Monstera deliciosa" theory on > the > > forum Aroid l, "In the 90s while working on Rhaphidophora I investigated > the > > so-called miniature form of M. deliciosa in cultivation in Europe and as > > named in Birdsey's Cultivated Aroids as 'Dwarf Ceriman' and these plants > > were without exception Rhaphidophora tetrasperma from peninsular Malaysia > > and southern Thailand. At the time Josef (Bogner) had a large one > flowering > > in Munich and it was from here that I obtained inflorescences to confirm > the > > generic Id. Material from this clone was later used by one of my > students > > Tam Shey May for molecular work on the Monstereae and embedded in the > > Rhaphidophora clade as sister to R. nicolsonii from Pen. Malaysia while > M. > > deliciosa remained clustered with Stenopsermation and a Rhodospatha. > Thus > > morphologically (ovules, seeds) and on the molecular European 'Dwarf' > > Deliciosa' is a Rhaphidophora." > > > > Some estimates indicate as many as one out of every eight plants known to > > science have natural variability within their leaf forms. They also > "morph" > > as they grow. This link offers a more complete explanation of natural > > variation within aroid species. Once you complete reading the > information > > on this page please read this page on Natural Variation for a > non-technical > > explanation of how and why plants vary in appearance. On that page you > wil > > find photos that demonstrate how aroids change their appearance as they > > mature. > > > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is scientifically described as being a "small > to > > medium sized" heterophyllous aroid. A heterophyllous species is one > that is > > capable of having very dissimilar leaves on the same specimen. A deeply > > pinnatifid aroid, R. tetrasperma is easily confused with a small > Monstera > > deliciosa, but solely by appearance. As Julius explained, > scientifically > > they are not closely related. > > > > Rather than being stiff and leathery (coriaceous) as are the leaves of > > Monstera deliciosa, the leaves are relatively thin and flexible. > Pinnatified > > species are those that produce leaves somewhat similar in shape to a > feather > > or a palm frond. This species is not related to any palm. The juvenile > > form of Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a shingling plant similar in > appearance > > to Rhaphidophora korthalsii as well as Rhaphidophora nicolsonii but may > be > > distinguished by a knowledgeable observer based on the petiole sheath and > > leaf lamina characteristics. > > > > Plants that begin their growth appressed are found growing in a > > heteroblastic growth form known as "shingling" since they have the vague > > appearance of the shingles or tiles on a roof. The juvenile leaves have > > this appearance due to very short petioles. Heteroblasty is the > progressive > > change in growth from the juvenile shingle leaf to the intermediate adult > > and finally into the adult form that stand away from the host as a > result of > > longer petioles and exhibit extreme changes in shape along the way. > Shinglers > > grow extremely close to their host tree as appressed epiphytes. > Appressed > > is "to press". > > > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is quoted on the International Aroid Society > > website as being rare in nature and is restricted to only a few sites on > the > > Malaysian peninsula near Kelantan and Perak as well as southern > Thailand. Very > > little has been published regarding this species in either scientific or > > commercially available literature. In the rain forest of SE Asia the > plant > > is a vine (liane) on the trees growing to a height of 5 meters (16 > feet). The > > plant is said to very rarely grow as a terrestrial species preferring to > > climb. > > > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma clings to its host with a sparse quantity of > > clasping roots from the nodes and internodes. The leaves can be ovate to > a > > combination of oval and lanceolate. A lanceolate leaf blade is one that > is > > spear shaped. The blades are not heavily coriaceous (leathery) and > measure > > from 10 to 34cm (4 to 13.3 inches). Since it is known to be a > heterophyllus > > species, leaf variation should be expected. Heterophylly just means a > plant > > can have very different appearing leaves on a single specimen. > > > > Regardless of the common belief a species is determined by the shape of > the > > leaf, that factor is rarely the final determination, especially in > > aroids. Leaf > > variation among aroid species is extremely common and the shape of a leaf > > alone cannot be used to accurately determine a species. An examination > of > > the petiole supporting the leaf (commonly called the stem) will show it > has > > a shallow groove. In its natural range the species is found in dry to > moist > > or wet forest as well as on sandstone and granite to an elevation of 190 > to > > 760 meters (625 to 2500 feet). The maximum leaf blade of our specimen in > > the photo above measures 16.5cm (6.5 inches). > > > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is now commonly sold on eBay as a miniature > > variegated Monstera, but most sellers have simply been mislead into > > believing the plant they sell is something other than its true identity. > In > > a recent conversation with one eBay seller I pointed out the variegated > form > > does not appear to be natural and was likely induced with chemicals > during > > the tissue culture process. Tissue culture is where the DNA of a parent > > plant is extracted and prepared in a laboratory and eventually grown into > > tissue that can be potted eventually producing an artificially cloned > > specimen. > > > > Since other sellers had told him he was foolish for accepting my > opinion I > > recommended we ask aroid botanist Peter Boyce in Malaysia for his opinion > > whether or not the plant was a Rhaphidophora or a Monstera. Pete is the > > recognized authority on the aroids of Malaysia and Southeast Asia. This > is > > Pete's response once he was shown the photo to the right, "this is 100% > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Hook.f., a species indigenous to Peninsular > > Malaysia and the far south of the Thai peninsula and with which I am very > > familiar. This species in its green (wild) form has been in cultivation > at > > least since 1950 and is mentioned (but not illustrated) in Birdsey’s ‘The > > Cultivated Aroids’. By the way I have seen exactly the same variegated > form > > of this plant for sale in Bangkok; talking to the Thai growers they also > > agree that it is a somatic mutation induced in tissue culture. Similar > > mutations are being generated in tissue culture with Spathiphyllum, > > Homalomena, and Philodendron and usually involve the introduction of > benign > > colour-breaking virus." > > > > Just because you find a plant that has a beautiful variegated coloration > > does not mean it is natural. Worse, once the plant matures the > variegation > > will likely begin to slowly vanish since it was purposely infected with a > > harmless virus to induce the coloration as Pete explained in his > response.. > > > > As an aroid, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma produces a small inflorescence > with a > > spathe that is described as "canoe-shaped" measuring to 3.5cm (1.4 > inches). > > The spathe is scientifically described as "stiffly fleshy" and drops from > > the spadix rapidly. The fruit that forms on the spadix of Rhaphidophora > > species each contain a number of small ellipsoid seeds. > > > > Within the genera that form the tribe Monstereae, seed characteristics > are > > frequently the only way a botanist can discern which genus any species > may > > properly belong. Monstereae includes the genera Amydrium, Rhaphidophora, > > Epipremnum, Scindapsus, Monstera, Alloschemone, Rhodospatha, and > > Stenospermation. According to the excellent aroid text Aroids, Plants of > > the Arum Family by author Deni Bown, "Rhaph has many small oblong seeds; > > Amydrium has globose to heart-shape Epipremnum has a few large, > > kidney-shaped seeds; and Scindapsus has rounded to slightly kidney-shaped > > seed." Some of the genera are so closely related the only way to divide > > them is by the number of seeds produced. Within the genus Rhaphidophora > > there are approximately 100 known species. > > > > The genus Rhaphidophora is found from the island of Borneo, SE Asia > through > > India and into Africa, however the species Rhaphidophora tetrasperma has > a > > very limited natural range in only Malaysia and parts of Thailand. The > term > > "British India" used in the scientific description is not referring to > what > > we now know as the country of India. > > > > Our specimen was a gift from collector Bryan Stover and is potted in > > extremely porous soil containing orchid potting bark and charcoal. The > > mixture is kept constantly damp in mottled light. A word of caution, if > you > > like this species, control where it grows! One very knowledgeable grower > > warned the species can become invasive in a greenhouse. Easily > cultivated, > > the species can be very invasive despite the fact it is considered > > moderately rare in nature. > > > > My sincere thanks to Lucinda Lay of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in > London > > for providing a copy of Pete Boyce's scientific treatment of the > species. For > > those who would like to read the original document, you can find the > work, > > which is published in 'Gardens Bulletin Singapore', Title: Rhaphidophora > > Hassk. (Araceae-Monsteroideae-Monstereae) in Peninsular Malaysia, and > > Singapore Volume 52, 1999, at the bottom of this page. > > > > My thanks also to Pete who often provides assistance to collectors and > > growers as well as information to this author. > > > > Join the International Aroid Society: > http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html > > > > The scientific description of Rhapidophora tetrasperma > > > > 15. Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Hook.f. > > > > Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6 (1893) 548; Ridl., > Mat. > > Fl. Malay.Malay Penins. 3 (1907) 44--45; Engl. & K. Krause in Engl., > > Pflanzenr. 37 (IV.23B) (1908) 48; Ridl., Fl. Malay.Malay Penins. 5 (1925) > > 124 - Type: Malaysia, Perak, Scortechini 169b (K, holo). > > > > Distribution: Peninsular Malaysia (Kelantan, Perak). Also), distributed > in > > and southern Thailand. > > > > Small to medium-sized, rather slender, semi-pachycaul, heterophyllous > liane > > to 5 m; seedling stage a non-skototropic shingling juvenile shoot; > pre-adult > > plants very rarely forming terrestrial colonies; adult shoot architecture > > comprised of elongated, weakly clinging, physiognomically monopodial, > > flexuous, moderately leafy, non-flowering stems and weakly adherent or, > more > > commonly, free lateral flowering stems; stems smooth, without prophyll, > > cataphyll and petiolar sheath fibre, internodes to 14 x 1 cm, separated > by > > prominent straight leaf scars; flagellate foraging stems not observed; > > clasping roots sparsely produced from nodes and internodes; feeding roots > > stout, produced singly or in pairs from most nodes of free shoots; leaves > > weakly spiral-distichous; cataphylls and prophylls membranous, soon > drying > > and falling; petiole shallowly grooved, 10--34 x 0.2--0.4 cm, smooth, > apical > > and basal genicula slightly prominent; petiolar sheath prominent, > extending > > to base of apical geniculum, soon falling to leave a prominent, slightly > > corky scar; lamina sparsely to + entirely deeply pinnatipartite to nearly > > pinnatisect, occasionally with large rhombic perforations adjacent to > > mid-rib, 12--42 x 9.5--38 cm, broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, thinly > > coriaceous, base truncate or very weakly cordate, apex acute to > acuminate, > > individual pinnae up to 6 cm wide; mid-rib prominently raised abaxially, > > slightly sunken adaxially; primary venation pinnate, raised abaxially, > > slightly impressed adaxially; interprimaries diverging from primaries, > much > > less prominent, slightly raised abaxially, very slightly impressed > > adaxially; secondary venation weakly reticulate, very slightly raised; > > tertiary venation barely visible; inflorescence few together, subtended > by > > two prominent cataphylls, these soon falling; peduncle terete, 2--2.5 x > > 0.3--0.4 cm; spathe canoe-shaped, 3--3.5 x 0.8--1.5 cm, stiffly fleshy, > > apparently falling swiftly, white with adherent black cataphyll remnants; > > spadix cylindrical, sessile, inserted slightly decurrently on peduncle, > > 3--3.5 x 0.75 - 1 cm, white; stylar region well developed, mostly > > rhombohexagonal, c.c. 2 x 2 mm, truncate, margins deflexed; stigma > elliptic, > > longitudinally orientated, c.c. 1 x 0.2 mm; anthers exserted at anthesis; > > infructescence not observed. > > > > Habitat: Disturbed rather dry to moist or wet forest on sandstone and > > granite. 190--760 m altitude. > > > > Notes: As noted under above, R. tetrasperma most closely resembles R. > > nicolsonii but may be distinguished readily on petiole sheath and leaf > > lamina characters. > > > > Other specimens seen: PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: Kelantan, Tanah Merah, Pergau > Dam > > site, logging road to Sg Long Intake 1, Boyce 652 (K, KEP); Perak, Bidor > > Corner SFN s.n. (SING). > > > > Regards > > > > Bhagyahsri > > > > On Sat, Sep 17, 2011 at 11:58 AM, anupam sarmah > > <anupamsar...@gmail.com>wrote:> > Rhaphidophora (Araceae)? > > > > > anupam > > > > > On Sat, Sep 17, 2011 at 11:54 AM, Madhuri Raut <itii...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > >> request for identification > > > > >> Date/Time-Sep 2011 > > > > >> Location- Place, Altitude, GPS-Pune > > > > >> Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type-Garden > > > > >> Plant Habit- Tree/ Shrub/ Climber/ Herb- Potted plant > > > > >> Height/Length- about 2 feet > > > > >> Leaves Type/ Shape/ Size- green with holes > > > > >> Flowers & Fruits not seen > > > > >> Regards > > > > >> Bhagyashri > > > > > -- > > > *Anupam Sarmah Ph.D. I *Head, Assam Landscapes I WWF India I Tezpur, > Assam > > > +91 3712 260132 (O) I+91 94354 85789 (M) I Skype: anupamsarmah > -- Regards Dr.Bhagyashri Ranade
