| Field notes | Terrestial herb in clump (10-20 cm between neighbouring shoots). Leafy shoot to 6 m long. Base of leafy shoot to 7 cm diam., brown. Sheath yellow-green. Ligule to 4 mm long, brown, pubescent. Petiole to 6 mm long. Lamina to 63 x 12 cm, green. Inflorescence from rhizome near base. Peduncle to 17 cm long, subterranean, ascending, scales orange-brown or greenish -brown. Spike loose (no sterile bracts), to 11 x 7 cm, with 4 flowers open at a time. Receptacle7 x 1.3 cm, clearly visible, reddish brown. Fertile bract, bracteole, and calyx greenish brown. Staminal tube pale red. Labellum bright yellow. Stamen and stigma white. Ovary densely orange-brown pubescent. Infrutescence head 11 x 9 cm, including persistent bracts. Pedicel 2 cm long. Fruit 2.7 x 2.5 cm, subglobose, spines well-spaced, greenish-brown. Taste of the centre of leafy shoot base: very bitter. Vernacular name: tikala (Kulawi language); ketjimpang (Bugis language). Fruit edible, mixed with spices. Material in spirit. DNA sampled. |
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