Anthorrhiza bracteosa is found on Normanby island in the east of Papua new guinea. Anthorrhiza bracteosa grows at less exposed spots than the other species of Anthorrhiza (A. bracteosa) that's also found on the island. Limited supply!
A very nice lowland species. The plants from Missima differ considerably from the Rossel ones. Since Rossel is the type locality, I have some doubts whether both populations really represent the same species. Maybe, the Missima plants represent an undescribed species!
Very unusual species! The plants grow terrestrially. Often the caudex is completely hidden under the soil surface. Striking are the bluish leaves which are silvery iridescent in young plants.In culture the plants grow well in coarse peat substrate although they were found in nature on ultrabasic soils.
I believe, this is the elusive Hydnophytum mamberamoense or a related species. Unfortunately, the type specimen is quite incomplete, so I am a bit reluctant to call it H. mamberamoense.However having seen the species in the field, I am quite sure that this is neither a Hydnophytum, nor a Myrmecodia but rather belongs into a yet to be described new genus of Hydnophytinae!This strange species from the southern coast of Irian Jaya does not really fit into any of the other genuses of Hydnophytinae. At first sight, the caudex looks Myrmecodia-like but appears to be less organanized and very irregular. The inflorescence does not fit into Myrmecodia either. Very interesting!
Antfern. Lecanopteris carnosa rhizomes are not covered by scales or wax. Very interesting and rare in collections. With their strangely shaped hollow rhizomes they look very bizzare! Lecanopteris species are spread over Indonesia and Malaysia. They form hollow rhizomes that are inhabited by ants in the wild. In cultivation they easily grow without ants, however.
Antfern. Only the youngest portion is green, the older areas, though still alive turn brownish. Very interesting and rare in collections. With their strangely shaped hollow rhizomes they look very bizzare! Lecanopteris species are spread over Indonesia and Malaysia. They form hollow rhizomes that are inhabited by ants in the wild. In cultivation they easily grow without ants,
Antfern. Easy species. The rhizomes are densly covered by scales. Very interesting and rare in collections. With their strangely shaped hollow rhizomes they look very bizzare! Lecanopteris species are spread over Indonesia and Malaysia. They form hollow rhizomes that are inhabited by ants in the wild. In cultivation they easily grow without ants, however.
Antfern. Lecanopteris deparioides rhizomes are covered by wax. Very interesting and rare in collections. With their strangely shaped hollow rhizomes they look very bizzare! Lecanopteris species are spread over Indonesia and Malaysia. They form hollow rhizomes that are inhabited by ants in the wild. In cultivation they easily grow without ants, however.
Antfern. The only Lecanopteris without hollow rhizomes. The rhizomes form flat shell-like structures that cover tree-branches. Ants live under these shells. The leaves are very pretty due to their reddish veins. A very beautiful plant. Very interesting and rare in collections. Short supply!
Antfern. Easy species. The slender und almost unbranched rhizomes are densly covered by scales. Lecanopteris species are spread over Indonesia and Malaysia. They form hollow rhizomes that are inhabited by ants in the wild. In cultivation they easily grow without ants, however.
Antfern. Easy species. The slender und almost unbranched rhizomes are densly covered by scales. Lecanopteris species are spread over Indonesia and Malaysia. They form hollow rhizomes that are inhabited by ants in the wild. In cultivation they easily grow without ants, however.
Very interesting species. The caudex bears numerous undivided spines. The pink-coloured berries are striking. Unfortunately, the geographical origin of the species is unclear, as I obtained my mother plants from a botanical collection without precise information.
A beautiful species from Dinagat, an offshore island off Mindanao. The caudex is very darkly coloured in good light and is somewhat reminiscent of Myrmecodia tuberosa 'bullosa'.
