Harmsiopanax ingens

Harmsiopanax gens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Subfamily: Aralioideae
Genus: Harmsiopanax
Warb.
Species
  • Harmsiopanax aculeata
  • Harmsiopanax harmsii
  • Harmsiopanax ingens
Synonyms

Harmiopanax ingens (Araliaceae) is a spiny, palmlike mesocaul tree endemic to the montane rainforests of central New Guinea which bears a terminal rosette of meter-wide peltate leaves on equally long petioles. It ultimately attains a height of eighteen meters, at which point it bears a huge panicle of flowers five meters high and equally wide; the largest above ground inflorescence of any dicot plant[1] (although Caloncoba flagelliflora (Flacourtiaceae; of West Africa)[2] and Ficus geocarpa (Moraceae; of the Malay Peninsula)[3] and F. unciata var. strigosa (also of Malaya)[4] have larger subsurface panicles, each about nine meters in length. H. ingens is monocarpic, and again the largest among dicots. Its native name is "Makua".[1]

References

  1. 1 2 W.R. Philipson, "A Revision of Harmsiopanax" BLUMEA Vol. 21 (1973) # 1 pp. 84-85
  2. E. Gilg, "Flacourtiaceae", DIE NATURLICHEN PFLANZENFAMILIEN (2nd edition; 1925) Vol. 21 pp. 377-457.
  3. "Moraceae - Ficus", FLORA MALESIANA Vol. 17 Part 2 (2005) pp. 40 & 461.
  4. E.J.H. Corner, WAYSIDE TREES OF MALAYA (1952 edition) Vol. 1 p. 681.
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