| Field notes | Terrestrial herb to 2 m, stilt root 1 cm thick, base swollen 7 by 3 cm, pale yellow-green with red, sheath pale yellow-green with reddish lines and dots. INDIVIDUAL A: Shoot leafless 1.3 m, with 7 leaves. Petiole 3.5 cm; lamina up to 47 cm by 12 cm, broadest above the middle; base unequal 0–3 mm. Inflorescence from rhizome near base (5 cm). Peduncle 5 cm, exposed, brown. Inflorescence with 42 flowers, flowers diminutive (5.5 cm long) but same colours as normal. INDIVIDUAL B: 3 m, up to 36 leaves per shoot. Petiole (3.5)–4– (5) cm, base unequal from almost equal to 10 mm, largest leaf 63 cm by 14 cm, broadest 1/3 from tip. Peduncle 10 cm, bracts reddish brown, flowers 7 cm. Taste strong like pine, bitter. Leaves used to make the collar for the Burong Kenyalang (ceremonial). The nectar is eaten by the 'burong ngkarasak' (bird) and the ankih and landak (porcupines) and tupai (squirrel) eat the fruits. Vernacular name: Tepus kenyalang (Iban). Material in spirit. |
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