Volume 11 > Part 2 > Year 2012 > Page 117 > Araceae > Aglaonema

8. Aglaonema pumilum Hook.f.

Fl. Brit. India 6: 530. 1893; Engl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV, 23Dc (Heft 64): 17. 1915; Nicolson, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 1: 58–59, Fig. 6 & 22. 1969.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Small, decumbent to creeping (?), evergreen herb, to 15 cm. Stem decumbent, often reddish, 0.3–0.5 cm thick. Leaves several together interspersed with conspicuous brown papery 3–4 cm cataphylls; petioles 3.5–7 cm; petiolar sheaths 1–3.5 cm long; leaf blade ovate to lanceolate, 8–13.2 by 2.3–5.2 cm, base unequal, usually rounded, obtuse to truncate, apex gradually acuminate; primary lateral venation not or only weakly differentiated, with 3–4 veins per side, variegation absent or ashy-blotched on the upper leaf surface. Inflorescence solitary; peduncle 3–5 cm long, often equalling the petiole; spathe ovate, 2–4.5 by 1–1.5 cm, decurrent for 0.4–1 cm; spadix thin-cylindrical, 1.5–2 cm long, briefly stipitate; stipe ca 2 mm; pistillate flower zone 2–4 mm with ca 5 flowers; staminate flower zone 1–1.7 cm by 2–3 mm, white. Fruits ellipsoid, 1–1.5 by 0.5–0.8 cm.

Thailand : SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan; PENINSULAR: Phangnga.

Distribution : S Myanmar (type).

Ecology : Not recorded.

Notes: This species is very poorly known. Judging by the very mearge specimens available, it may be related to Aglaonema brevispathum and A. costatum as it seems to have a creeping stem, and there are cataphylls among the leaves.