Hydnophytum cf. albertisii (road to Lake Kutubu, PNG)
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Product information "Hydnophytum cf. albertisii (road to Lake Kutubu, PNG)"
This is a very interesting species belonging to the Hydnophytum radicans group.
Jebb & Huxlex (Blumea 64, 2019) mention both very narrow-leaved and relatively broad-leaved forms of this species. The narrow-leaved forms and the distribution range fit well. However, Jebb refers to unbranched inflorescences, which is not consistently the case with my plants.
A wonderful new addition to cultivation!
Hydnophytum albertisii
Hydnophytum albertisii Becc. is a myrmecophytic species of the family Rubiaceae, which occurs in the provinces Western, Southern Highlands and Gulf in Papua New Guinea and grows epiphytically in forests. It is assumed that ants colonise the caudex, but this has not yet been directly documented.
A characteristic feature of the species is a small, smooth caudex with distinctly lip-shaped entry openings. The numerous, sparsely branched shoots are quadrangular and possess four conspicuous, wing-like longitudinal ridges. The leaves are narrow, oblong-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, leathery, with a wedge-shaped base and a long, tapering apex. The leaf margin is entire, the midrib distinctly prominent; the short petioles are slightly winged. The paired inflorescences are borne on short peduncles and bear white, heterostylous flowers.