Volume 11 > Part 2 > Year 2012 > Page 235 > Araceae > Epipremnum

3. Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl.

in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV, 23B (Heft 37): 60–63, Fig.25. 1908; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 6: 1100–1102. 1942; Boyce, Blumea 44: 201–205, fig. 5. 1998.— Pothos pinnata L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2: 1374. 1763.— Monstera pinnata (L.) Schott, Wiener Z. Kunst 4: 1028. 1830.— Scindapsus pinnatus (L.) Schott in Schott & Endlicher, Melet. Bot.: 21. 1832. Plate LX.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Large root-climbing robust secondary hemiepiphytes to 15 m. Stem 5–40 mm diam., lustrous green with prominent irregular greyish crests, older stems with distinctive matte to sub-lustrous pale brown papery epidermis. Leaves scattered on lower stem, becoming somewhat clustered towards stem apices; petiole 19.5–60 cm by 3–13 mm, canaliculate, dark green, smooth; apical pulvinus 16–70 by 0.3–0.5 cm, basal pulvinus 3–7 by 1–1.5 cm; petiolar sheath extending ⅓–¾ along petiole, rarely (poorly developed leaves) reaching apical pulvinus, at first membranaceous, soon drying chartaceous and disintegrating into untidy partially netted fibres, later falling to leave a smooth, mid-brown scar; leaf blade 10–93 by 5–60 cm, entire (juvenile plants) to regularly pinnate, ovate to elliptic in outline, sub-membranaceous, lustrous dark green, rarely slightly to intensely blue-green and glaucous above, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded to slightly cordate, divisions pinnatifid to pinnatisect, occasionally midrib ± naked at sinus; pinnae 1.2–6.5 cm wide, apex truncate to acute, terminal pinna shallowly sinuous, many individuals with minute to somewhat well developed pellucid dots especially adjacent to the midrib, pellucid dots often perforating and enlarging, sometimes extending to blade margin (then fenestrations often additional to fully developed pinnae); primary lateral veins 1 per pinna; higher order venation reticulate. Inflorescence solitary, rarely two or more together, at anthesis partially to almost completely obscured by netted fibres; peduncle 5.5–21.5 cm by 4–10 mm; spathe canoe-shaped, 7–23.5 by 3–15 cm when pressed flat, stoutly attenuate to 15 mm, gaping at anthesis and then falling before anthesis is complete, exterior green, later dull greenish yellow to mid-green, interior dull yellow (reported as white by some collectors) at anthesis; spadix 8.5–25 by 1.1–3.5 cm, sessile, cylindrical, bluntly tapering towards the apex, glaucous grey-green to greenish cream, dark yellow or greenish white at anthesis; flowers 3–7 mm diam., across the style; ovary 4–12 by 2–7 mm, cylindrical-ellipsoid, basal part slightly compressed; stylar region 3–7 by 1.5 4 mm, acroscopic-trapezoid, rather robust, apex flattened; stigma 2–6 by 0.1–0.5 mm, linear. Infructescence mid-green, rarely somewhat to prominently glaucous, stylar region greatly enlarged, transversely dehsicent, the abscission developing at the base of the massive stylar region and this falling to expose the ovary cavity full of orange pulp.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Trang.

Distribution : Widespread but often somewhat localized, occurring throughout tropical Asia from the Andaman Islands to western Oceania. For details of the extensive synonomy see Boyce, Blumea 43, 183–213. 1998.

Ecology : Lowland to lower montane primary and secondary dense to open lowland to upper hill rain and monsoonal forests, weedy in rubber plantations, rocks and coastal forests, on a variety of substrates including granite, andesite and limestone.

Vernacular : Ngot (งด)(Surat Thani); ngot khao (งดเขา)(Surin); ngot niao (งดเหนียว)(Trang); nang rong (นางรอง)(Trat); phlu dang (พลูด่าง), phlu farang (พลูฝรั่ง), phlu chang (พลูช้าง)(Central).

Notes: Curiously there are almost no collections of this plant in Thai herbaria, even though it is not rare.