Giant gesneriads

For most gardeners, giant tree-like plant is not something associated with members of Gesneriad family. Out of the three thousand plus species in this large family, there are actually a quite a few giants that are very little known compared to their smaller cousins.

While scrambling up an open slope on a steep limestone hill in Sarawak, I came across this giant Paraboea - its a man's height even before blooming, its multiple branched inflorescence adding a further metre or so.



I reckon this is either a P. havilandii or the related P. treubii - both of which, according to literature, can be up to 2m high. The spiralling seed pod is characteristic of this genus - the pod builds up internal pressure and eventually implodes with a twisting action that catapult the seeds from mother plant. Note also the retention of dried leaves at the base, the function of which is a mystery.

There are many more examples of giant Gesneriads - like the Brazilian Paliavana , which I found from the excellent web site by Mauro. While visiting one of Europe's botanical gardens, I unexpectedly stumbled upon this striking Jamaican native, - Rhytidophyllum tomentosum, which I know nothing of except that its likely pollinated by bats.
The felty leaves remind me very much of the Henckelia back home but the stiff flowers are quite unique.


I do not think any of these large and drab plants will be popular to gardeners soon unless hybridisers manage to perform some miraculous makeovers. Still, they are interesting botanical curios for me ....

Gift from the fallen

Years ago a fallen tree branch from the forest yielded a big rotting clump of orchid on the ground from which I made a cutting and nursed it back to health. Since its full recovery , the Coelogyne pandurata had been rewarding me with this bloom year after year.

This is a large orchid from SE Asia and is often called "Black Orchid" by some due to the fierce looking dark markings on its lips. Although some vendors tried to pull a fast one by touting it to be rare its is actually quite common in lowland forests although it may not always be free flowering.

Alocasia scalprum

Peter Boyce and Alistair Hay officially described this plant in 1999 which has so far only been seen in cultivation with the nickname "Samar Lance". This is the dark form of the variable species known from the island of Samar in the Philippines. While cultivated plants are not uncommon, it is rare or may even be extinct in the wild - no body knows for sure because the island is a hot spot for political unrests and understandably nobody seems keen to survey there.

It differs from the closely related A. heterophylla by its dark coloured cardboard-like leaf blade and a very shallow sinus at the top of the leaf Its a small plant, with adult plant having blades no more than 20cm long. The plane of the leaf lies mostly horizontally which is also quite unlike A. heterophylla, which has errect greener leaves. After growing it for 8 years, I have yet to see it flower for me.

As with most Alocasias, this plant is rather temperamental but I seemed to have to have more success growing in on the ground.

How does Heaven look like ?

....I hope its a good place to retire.