Typhonium peltandroides A.Hay, M.D.Barrett & R.L.Barrett

Hay, A., Barrett, M.D. & Barrett, R.L. (1999) Nuytsia 13(1): 243. Type: Grevillea Gorge on Beverley Springs Station, West Kimberley, Western Australia, 16 30'25"S. 125 20'E, 14 January 1996, R.L. Barrett & M.D. Barrett 700.

Leaves produced each year from an underground, depressed corm to 5 cm diameter.

Leaves 3 or 4 together; petiole 15-50 cm long, distinctly sheathing in lower 1/2 (sheath membranous, to 16 cm); leaf blade ovate to narrowly ovate, always simple, (8-) 14-34 x (3-) 7-11.7 cm obtuse at base, apex acute to acuminate; mid rib strongly prominent abaxially in the basal half; primary lateral veins c. 12 on each side of the midrib; all veins arising from midrib forming a closely striate pattern, ultimately running into a well-defined intramarginal vein 2-3 mm within the margin.

Inflorescence among the leaves, terminal, preceded by leaves; bloom smelling of decaying flesh; peduncle (6-)14-24 cm long, c. 5 mm diam., elevated c. 3-15 cm above soil surface. Spathe base green, strongly constricted at apex, broadly oblong, 1.6-2.5 x 1.2-2.7 cm; spathe limb greenish outside, deep reddish-purple inside, ovate, (5-)9-12 x (3-)6-8 cm, recurved and spreading at base. Spadix slightly shorter than spathe; female zone c. 7 x 10 mm; interstice c. (12-)21 x 3.5 mm, with sterile organs on lower 4 mm, naked above; male zone c. (11-)18 x 7 mm; appendix narrowly conical, sessile, deep reddish-purple, 7.5-9.5 x 1.0-1.2 cm (at widest point), somewhat recurved, base asymmetric, oblique in profile. Pistils c. 50, plagioscopic, obovate, c. 3 x 1.5 mm, ovary unilocular and uniovulate. Sterile organs filiform, slightly clavate at tips, tangled and twisted in all directions, 8-15 mm long. Male flowers cream, becoming apricot with pollen.

Fruiting spathe base persistent and enclosing berries, green, c. 2.5 x 2.5 cm. Seeds brown, orbicular, slightly laterally compressed with many longitudinal furrows and pits, c. 5 x 4.5 mm.

Features not available.

Endemic to WA, currently known only from the Grevillea Gorge in the Synnott Range. Grows in shallow sand on sandstone, either in rainforest vine thickets or amongst Triodia on rock ledges of sides of gorge.

Description adapted from Nuytsia 31(1999).