A look at Ceropegia sp. 3 (or perhaps I should call it C. sp. 2 'Galaxy')

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This is a plant which I have given a provisional name of Ceropegia sp. 3, a Philippine species of unknown provenance. It has been flowering for about three months now, and I am still wondering why I have not written a post about it, until now. Well, it isn't yet too late, isn't it?




This is a distinctive species that is attractive even when not in flower due to the leaves which are prominently and generously spotted with pale yellow. This plant may be the most widely seen Philippine Ceropegia in the local scene, as I know quite a few individuals also possessing the species. Paul Pinto, who has one of the most diverse collections of stapeliads in the Philippines, has a photo of his plant with a somewhat longer neck and markings tending towards pinkish as well as some minor differences, though I am inclined to put it down to variation. The flowers on my plant are 3.5 cm in length, elongating slightly to 3.8 cm as anthesis progresses. A curious aspect of this plant is that in warm weather the flowers are typically 3.5 cm long, but attains almost a full centimeter more during rainy spells. Old peduncles commonly branch into three.




A cross-section of a flower reveals that the corona is very similar to that of Ceropegia sp. 2, with bifurcated corona lobes fringed with trichomes. Below is a photo of sp. 3's interior:



Now, compare it with sp. 2's:



To be honest, I could not see any morphological differences between the two, and am disposed to think that both are one and the same species. Ceropegia sp. 3 only differs in being a smaller plant overall and in having maculated leaves. I haven't yet obtained a plant of C. cumingiana, nor could find a copy of the original description, but in time, it may prove to be that sp. 2 and 3 are referable to this species. By the way, perhaps it would be correct to call this plant Ceropegia sp. 2 'Galaxy' instead of Ceropegia sp. 3.


Ceropegia sp. 2 on the left, and Ceropegia sp. 3 on the right.

Ceropegia sp. 2 on the left, and Ceropegia sp. 3 on the right. Note the slightly taller and narrower bloom of sp. 2, and the brighter coloration on sp. 3. 


Flower cross-section of another Ceropegia sp. 3.


Like my other Philippine ceropegias, this is an easy, undemanding plant to grow, and tolerant of dryish conditions. Ceropegia sp. 2 is much more vigorous, but this one flowers even on small, rooted cuttings, something I am yet to observe on sp. 2.




A beautiful plant nonetheless. I'm sure you will concur 😉






Comments

  1. atilaxenon19 February 2020 at 22:58

    Good day, just read your post about your Ceropegia collections, been trying to ID this particular plant for a year now, as I have only a recently flowering successfully propagated collection which fortunately looks similar to your sp. 2, but with a a slightly different leaf shape; I couldn't place it as under apocynaceae as it doesn't exude a milky sap, but I guess it's really a Ceropegia, I'm also here in Laguna, at Los Banos actually, hope I could see your Ceropegia collections.

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