Ceropegia sp. 2 is beginning to show off!
A Ceropegia I am currently giving a designation as Ceropegia sp. 2 has finally opened a flower just two days ago. This is a plant that has kept me waiting impatiently since it started producing peduncles early last month, with some of the buds dropping off before finally having some that looked as if they are on their way to further development. Two named ceropegias are known from the the Philippines, C. cumingiana and C. merrilliana, the latter probably better off included in Brachystelma, where it was originally described under, as Brachystelma merrillii. However, it appears that the archipelago is host to a greater number of species than what it is currently given credit for.
Supposedly the most widespread species, C. cumingiana has been described from Benguet but has since been reported outside the Philippines, in New Guinea and Australia. However, in Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines- which contains the most definitive list of Philippine plants- one finds a jumble of entities under this name that could in no way belong to one and the same species: http://www.phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Ceropegia+cumingiana&rank=genus&classif_id=0
And to see what the Australian Tropical Herbarium thinks is C. cumingiana, please go to this link: https://www.facebook.com/tropicalherbarium/photos/pcb.1568064223274097/1568063566607496/?type=3&theater. Note how the sinuses (the spaces in between the corolla lobes) are rather acute, which is very different from the more rounded sinuses of Ceropegia sp. 2. So if the ATH identification is correct, then this Ceropegia in question is most likely not C. cumingiana.
But going back to Co's, you may notice that the plant featured in this post is extremely similar to, if not the same as, the ones photographed in Ilocos Norte and the island of Cebu. If so, it may be a very widespread but cryptic species seldom observed even by field botanists unless in bloom. Tropical Ceropegia species can be substantial vines that clamber onto surrounding vegetation and thus likely to be overlooked. Ceropegia sp. 2 have twining stems clothed with large, acuminate-tipped leaves with cordate bases and quite prominent veins.
Here is a detached flower alongside with what I am calling Ceropegia sp. 4, for comparison:
Cross-section of the flower of Ceropegia sp. 2. I noticed an unusual zonation of scents within this dissected flower, with the corona emitting a faint fragrance, but the joined corolla apices giving off a strange odor similar to a controversial slime toy which became popular with kids some years ago: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/331769/fetus-toys-raise-alarm-in-bulacan
Macabre, isn't it? Though I do not know how you can envision the odor I am talking about unless you have actually handled that toy. Anyway, there are sparse trichomes (hairs) surrounding the corona. Coupled with the maroon-black interior of the tube, I would guess that any insect falling in would get a difficult time reorienting itself for an escape, as those 'hairs' may mire an unlucky arthropod long enough to dislodge a pollinia.
Most ceropegias in cultivation are from the more arid regions, with the tropical species much less known in comparison. Anyone wishing to keep these plants should bear in mind that these tropical ceropegias can be quite rampant vines and space is needed to accommodate them. However, the plants pay back by bearing lots of flowers in long succession, with peduncles appearing at every node. This particular species of Ceropegia is currently producing just one opened flower at a time, but expectedly would later bear a profusion of blooms. This behavior is typical of other Philippine Ceropegia species that I have. Once the plant is in full flowering display, I may need to post an update.
For now, Ceropegia sp. 3 is keeping me at the edge of my seat 😉
Supposedly the most widespread species, C. cumingiana has been described from Benguet but has since been reported outside the Philippines, in New Guinea and Australia. However, in Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines- which contains the most definitive list of Philippine plants- one finds a jumble of entities under this name that could in no way belong to one and the same species: http://www.phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Ceropegia+cumingiana&rank=genus&classif_id=0
And to see what the Australian Tropical Herbarium thinks is C. cumingiana, please go to this link: https://www.facebook.com/tropicalherbarium/photos/pcb.1568064223274097/1568063566607496/?type=3&theater. Note how the sinuses (the spaces in between the corolla lobes) are rather acute, which is very different from the more rounded sinuses of Ceropegia sp. 2. So if the ATH identification is correct, then this Ceropegia in question is most likely not C. cumingiana.
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| Ceropegia sp. 2 in the sunlight |
But going back to Co's, you may notice that the plant featured in this post is extremely similar to, if not the same as, the ones photographed in Ilocos Norte and the island of Cebu. If so, it may be a very widespread but cryptic species seldom observed even by field botanists unless in bloom. Tropical Ceropegia species can be substantial vines that clamber onto surrounding vegetation and thus likely to be overlooked. Ceropegia sp. 2 have twining stems clothed with large, acuminate-tipped leaves with cordate bases and quite prominent veins.
Here is a detached flower alongside with what I am calling Ceropegia sp. 4, for comparison:
Cross-section of the flower of Ceropegia sp. 2. I noticed an unusual zonation of scents within this dissected flower, with the corona emitting a faint fragrance, but the joined corolla apices giving off a strange odor similar to a controversial slime toy which became popular with kids some years ago: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/331769/fetus-toys-raise-alarm-in-bulacan
Macabre, isn't it? Though I do not know how you can envision the odor I am talking about unless you have actually handled that toy. Anyway, there are sparse trichomes (hairs) surrounding the corona. Coupled with the maroon-black interior of the tube, I would guess that any insect falling in would get a difficult time reorienting itself for an escape, as those 'hairs' may mire an unlucky arthropod long enough to dislodge a pollinia.
Most ceropegias in cultivation are from the more arid regions, with the tropical species much less known in comparison. Anyone wishing to keep these plants should bear in mind that these tropical ceropegias can be quite rampant vines and space is needed to accommodate them. However, the plants pay back by bearing lots of flowers in long succession, with peduncles appearing at every node. This particular species of Ceropegia is currently producing just one opened flower at a time, but expectedly would later bear a profusion of blooms. This behavior is typical of other Philippine Ceropegia species that I have. Once the plant is in full flowering display, I may need to post an update.
For now, Ceropegia sp. 3 is keeping me at the edge of my seat 😉
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