Rhaphidophora australasica

F. M. Bailey

Raphidophora, Needle berry

Araceae Edible: Medicine 142 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Rhaphidophora australasica, commonly known as needle berry, is a plant in the arum family Araceae that is only found in the Wet Tropics bioregion of northeastern Queensland, Australia. It is a semi-epiphytic, robust, herbaceous, root climber reaching about 30 m (98 ft) tall. The dark green leaves are oblanceolate to elliptic and measure up to 40 cm (16 in) long by 14 cm (5.5 in) wide. The inflorescence is a spadix about 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) long, enclosed in a spathe about 13 cm (5.1 in) long.

Description

A climbing plant. It climbs by attaching roots to trees. The leaves are long and broad and shiny. They can be 40 cm long and 15 cm wide. They are on long leaf stalks. The growing stems end with a flower. The flower has a spike and a dense covering of flowers. The spathe is pale green. The fruit contain 20-30 seeds.

Distribution

It grows in tropical rainforest. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 1,040 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

It can be grown from cuttings.

Notes

There are about 100 Rhaphidophora species.

References (6)

Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 62
Hinton, B & B., 1982, A Wilderness in Bloom. Wildflowers of tropical Australia. p 4
Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 41
Leiper, G & Houser, J., Mutooroo. Plant Use by Australian Aboriginal People. Assembly press, Queensland.
Ratcliffe D & P., 1987, Australian Native Plants for Indoors. Little Hills press. p 125

Show all 6 references

Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 327