Authority:

Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.

Family:

Araceae

Description:

Description - Terrestrial or epiphytic herb, erect or sometimes creeping, attaining 8 m in length. Stems cylindrical, 8-10 cm in diameter, producing watery latex when wounded. Cataphylls up to 60 cm long, decomposing into persistent fibers. Leaves 25-60 x 17-50 cm, lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, coriaceous, the apex obtuse to acute, the base cordiform, the lobes not overlapping; lower surface slightly pale; petioles erect, almost cylindrical, attaining up to 1 m in length. Inflorescence axillary, solitary; peduncles robust, 6-9 cm long; spathe 14-21 cm long, convolute, constricted in the central part, greenish outside, with the base pink-burgundy, white on the inner surface; spadix sessile, robust, as long as the spathe, the staminal portion whitish and the pistillate portion greenish yellow. Berries yellow or orange.

Phenology - Collected in flower from February to April.

Conservation Status - Native, not very common.