Beautiful weeds P.1: Typhonium roxburghii

Marvel at that rich, velvet drapery!

We all have our different perceptions of what a weed is, but in a garden setting, we all can probably concur that a weed is any plant that grows where it should not be. Thus, a stray bulbil of an Amorphophallus muelleri sprouting on a pot of a totally different plant can be considered a weed, albeit a welcome one. Some plants are far less innocuous and can be so pesky that getting rid of them is akin to waging a never-ending war; in this category we can include some species of spurge and grasses, along with some very aggressive vines from the genus Mikania and Ipomoea, to name a few. And then there are those that belong to horticulturally important families and genera, but reproduces so fast that these can be conveniently lumped together with weeds.

In this series, I am going to feature those plants that tiptoe the line between a gardener's love and hate. And we'll start off with Typhonium roxburghii, a common and widespread plant throughout Asia and New Guinea, and is said to have naturalized in western Australia, eastern Brazil, and Tanzania, perhaps even to adjacent areas.

Here in the Philippines, T. roxburghii can be encountered where there are humans, with the exception of some coastal areas. It asexually reproduces by means of offsetting tubers, and mutilated main tubers can survive and eventually form into new plants. Mowing, land clearing, and quarrying for industrial and horticultural purposes have ensured that this species can proliferate just about anywhere, especially badly degraded habitats and wastelands. It can be even be found on roadsides. Thus, it can then be said that humans have become this species' primary vector of dispersal. Common as they may, it is quite surprising that few people actually see these plants in flower, which would not be surprising when the inflorescences are hidden amongst taller grasses and other weedy plants. And despite being a weedy plant, let's admit it, the inflorescences are attractive enough to warrant the keeping of a few for the garden, though it is imperative that plants are contained in a pot, for obvious reasons.

This is a plant that I have been cultivating for about five years now. Like plants from the genus Amorphophallus, it also undergoes dormancy and blooms at the beginning of the growing season, usually in the summer. Weedy as it may be, I have had failures maintaining this species in the pot, being very prone to rot and fungal attacks. Just this year I replaced the soil mixture with about 80% pumice and 20% organic matter and kept out of excessive rains. Regular fertilizing should boost its resistance to pathogens.

Yes, you read that right. Even weeds need fertilizers.

Male flowers. The female flowers are hidden in the floral chamber situated below the constriction.

Shown below is a leaf from the plant, showing the tri-lobed blade. In leaf morphology it is very similar to another common Typhonium, T. trilobatum. That species is easily confused with T. roxburghii and like it can also be considered a weed. An inquiry into the two species' floral parts is the only sure way to distinguish them, although the floral chamber of T. trilobatum is commonly green rather than maroon like the case for T. roxburghii.

From what I have observed, the spathe of this species fades more quickly than in T. trilobatum, turning from a rich velvety maroon to a rather matted, dingy brown on the second day. 

Shown below is a cut-away view of the floral chamber and the corresponding floral parts. As you can see, the male and female flowers are clearly separated into two zones, with an intervening stalk-like stipe in between them.

Scent-wise, Typhonium roxburghii is far less aggravating than T. trilobatum's, which I have always likened to human shit. Smelling T. roxburghii is like putting your nose close to dung and is only detectable only if, well, you put your nose next to it. If you have both species and both are in bloom, time to invite some friends over!

By now, you may be thinking of giving this plant a space in your garden. If you do, time to grab a digging spade and head out to your nearest roadside!