| Field notes | Terrestial herb in dense clump of c. 20 shoots. Leafy shoot to 4 m long, with up to 23 leaves. Base of leafy shoot to 9 cm diam., orange-brown when young. Sheath reticulate, greenish brown at bottom, densely pubescent, yellowish green at top, 5 cm diam just above the swollen base. Ligule truncate, to c. 7 mm long, hidden by leaf bases. Lamina to 120 x 23 cm, not plicate, green, midrib pale above; young leaves pink above and beneath; base distinctly auriculate: lobes enclosing pseudostem and creating a pocket wherein fallen debris is trapped. Inflorescence from rhizome. Peduncle subterranean to 25 x 3 cm. Spike globose to ovoid, 8 x 7 cm, distinctly spiny due to mucronate bracts. Receptacle at least 5 cm long. Fertile bract pale brownish pink or cream, slightly pink. Bracteole and calyx cream, slightly pink. Corolla lobe transparent pale pink. Labellum red with two white lines of pubescence in throat. Filament white. Stamen pale red. Stigma white. Flower was attacked by animal. Infrutescence ovoid, 19 cm x 9-13 cm, widest at base, with 50-80 fruits, bracts persistent orabge. Fruit 3.5 x 2.1 cm, obovoid to pyriform, broadesty below apex, angular, orange-brown on sides, pubescent; apex concave, warty in upper 7 mm, reddsih brown. Taste of the central part of leafy shoot base: bitter, pine. Material in spirit. DNA sampled. |
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