Amorphophallus gigas

By Yuzammi, Kebun Raya Bogor Staff To be published in Eksplorasi 3.3

Taxonomy Synonyms:

Amorphophallus asper (Engler) Engler & Gehrn Amorphophallus brooksii Alderw. Conophallus gigas (Teijsm. & Binn.) Miq. Hydrosme aspera Engl.

Amorphophallus gigas is a member of the Araceae Family (Aroid family). The genus Amorphophallus consists of more than 100 species (Bown, 1990) in the world, 47 of which occur in Malesia, Australia and tropical western Pacific (Hay et al, 1995). Amorphophallus gigas was first described by J.E. Teijsmann & Binnendijk 1862 in Plantae novae in Horto Bogoriense Cultae. Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. XXIV. 329. Amorphophallus gigas flowered in Bogor Botanic Garden for the first time on 13 April 1997. This plant was first planted in the Garden on 20 April 1995. The inflorescence reached a height of 3.60 m high, with a peduncle 2.06 m long.

Biology There are three stages in the life cycle of Amorphophallus: vegetative, dormant and generative. The vegetative stage is characterised by the appearance of a young shoot which takes from 6 months to 1 year to develop into a single leaf. The leaf eventually dries and disappears from the ground, and is followed by a dormant stage that can last for 2-4 years. The final stage is the generative stage which lasts from 1-2 months until flowering is complete. This cycle is typical of most Amorphophallus species, but sometimes the vegetative stage can occur twice, possibly because the tuber is not of great enough size to produce a flower. Amorphophallus gigas is one of the giant Amorphophallus species. It is very similar to A. decus-silvae, which is found only in West Java, but the flower of A. gigas is taller.

Description Tuber depressed-globose, reported to weigh up to 70 kg, no annual offset. Leaf solitary, petiole ca. 3-4 cm long, ca. 11-20 cm in diameter, smooth or rugose near the base, dark green with numerous large and small, rounded or elongate-oval, pale green spots; lamina to 4 m in diameter; leaflets lanceolate, long, acuminate, 13-25 cm long, 5-9 cm in diameter. Inflorescence long-peduncled, reported to reach to 4.26 m high; peduncle to ca. 2-3.5 m long, patterned as petiole; spathe campanulate; erect, broadly ovate ca. 55-60 cm long, outside dark green changing to pale green, the margins dark brown, in the base dark olive-green with some obscure ringlike, paler spots, inside paler green with reddish brown spots and reddish veins, margins plicate-sinuous, vein in all parts strongly raised. Spadix longer than spathe, sessile, ca. 150 cm long emitting a foul stench of decaying meat upon flowering. (Hetterscheid, 1996). Distribution and Habitat Amorphophallus gigas is native and endemic to Sumatra. In 1995 a specimen was collected during a Bogor Botanic Garden expedition to Solok District (Kabupaten Solok), West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat), at 720 m a.s.l. The tuber weighed 40 kg. This species grows well on steep limestone hillsides overlaid with loose humus, often in secondary forest. Conservation Status There is no information available concerning the conservation status of Amorphophallus gigas. In the authors opinion it should be listed by the WCMC as threatened because of its decreasing abundance in the wild which could lead to its becoming endangered in the future. The tuber rots easily when damaged, so plants are susceptible to death following disturbance. A. gigas appears to grow poorly in unsuitable places, and also appears to produce few seeds. Description of Research The author, as a member of the Inventory and Study of Ornamental Plants Research Group in Bogor Botanic Garden, has been studying the Araceae collections in the gardens, in particular the genera Homalomena and Schismattoglottis. Beginning in 1998, she will be conducting studies towards a Masters in Science at the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia). Her project will be a taxonomic revision of the Araceae of Java, with supervisors Dr. Alistair Hay of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, and Dr. Chris Quinn of the University of New South Wales. References 1. Bown, Denj. 1988. Aroids. Plant of the Arum Family. Century Hutchison Ltd., London. 2. Hay, A., J. Bogner, P.C. Boyce, W.L.A. Hetterscheid, N. Jacobsen, J. Murata. 1995. Blumea Supplement 8: Checklist & Botanical bibliography of the Aroids of Malesia, Australia, and the Tropical Western Pacific. Rijksherbarium/Hortus Botanicus. Leiden University - The Netherlands. Pp. 25. 3. Hettersheid, W.L.A. & S. Ittenbach. 1996. Everything you always wanted to know about Amorphophallus, but were too afraid to stick your nose into!!! Aroideana 19: 7-131. International Aroid Society, Inc. Pp. 70.

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Amorphophallus cf. gigas in Rejang Land, Sumatra

This is Amorphophallus sp that grow and will bloom soon at Air putih lama Village, Curup Town, Rejang Lebong regency, Rejang land, sumatra. In this local language, rejangese call as Bungei Kibut Mejoa, and Lembakese call as Bunge Kibut Milat. In Rejang Land this species often found in wild nature especially at they traditional plantation farm.

16 days after florescence

16 days after florescence

16 days after florescence

17 days after florescence

17 days after florescence

20 days after florescence

20 days after florescence

Identify as Am. cf. gigas by Mr. Willbert Hetterscheid Photo by Mr. Alex Muhibat