Anthorrhiza recurvispina (?) (Missima Island, PNG)
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Product information "Anthorrhiza recurvispina (?) (Missima Island, PNG)"
Anthorrhiza recurvispina
Anthorrhiza recurvispina Huxley & Jebb is an epiphytic species of the family Rubiaceae, found in the Louisiade Archipelago in eastern Papua New Guinea. It has been recorded on the islands of Misima, Rossel and Sudest and grows in lowland rainforests and open hillside woodlands from sea level up to an altitude of around 300 m. The species’ locus classicus is on Rossel Island. The plants usually grow singly or in small groups alongside Hydnophytum and are regularly colonised by the ant Iridomyrmex scrutator . With a caudex up to 35 cm in diameter, A. recurvispina one of the largest species in the genus.
The population on Misima Island differs from the populations on Rossel in several morphological characteristics and may possibly represent a previously undescribed species.
A characteristic feature of the species is the spherical to slightly flattened caudex with numerous hook-shaped, star-shaped spines, to which the species name recurvispina (‘with recurved spines’). The sturdy shoots bear large, ovate to obovate leaves with long petioles. In contrast to Anthorrhiza echinella , the caudex is only sparsely spined, has significantly more entry openings, and the smaller inflorescences bear a few sturdy, slightly curved spines. The flowers are white, the anthers strikingly blue, and the fruits are red.