Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Peninsular Thailand (Narathiwat), Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, & Maluku (Seram) |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Extinct (EX)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a clump or colony-forming herbaceous plant usually grows about 1 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its leaf blades are green, leathery and various from sub-liner to broadly ovate-oblong. |
| Flowers | Its spathe is greenish, 5-15 cm long. The spadix is up to 14 cm long. |
| Fruit | Its fruit are oblong-globose, maturing to dull red. |
| Habitat | It can be found in swampy areas in lowland forest, forest margins, in freshwater or peatswamp, or wet facies in Kerangas (heath forests with infertile soil) or Kerapah (waterlogged heath forests), often in full sun. |
| Etymology | The genus Homalomena is possibly derived from a Malayan vernacular name, which translates from the Greek homalos, "flat", and mene, "moon". The specific epithet rostratus is Latin for "beaked, curved, hooked," referring to the tip of the spathe limb before stamen maturation. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Poor Infertile Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stolon / Runner |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
References
| References | Wong, S.Y., Boyce, P., & Fasihudding B.A. (2011). Studies on Homalomeneae (Araceae) of Borneo III: The helophytic Homalomena of Sunda. Gardens Bulletin Singapore 62(2): 313–325. |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32358 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6769 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
