Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental- Plants are great as hanging plants or mounted as an epiphyte.
Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
Thrives in cool, high-altitude environments with moderate humidity in the canopy of mature trees in these high-altitude forests, at an elevation of about 1400 m.
It is tree-dwelling shrub hairless throughout with stems climbing up to 250 cm stout flexuous.
Stem is known for its slender and delicate appearance. This allows the plant to climb and trail gracefully.
Leaves are nearly stalkless, leaf blade rhomboid. These leaves can be quite large, reaching sizes between 8-12 cm in length and 2.5-6.5 cm in width. The base of the leaf connects to the stem in a rounded or broadly wedge-shaped manne, while the tip tapers to a point. A single, slender vein runs down the center of the leaf (midvein), and numerous lateral veins branch out from it. These lateral veins are interesting because they're straight, parallel, and quite prominent, giving the leaves a textured appearance.
Flowers are white to light pink, about 1.5 cm in diameter, the inner surface of the petals features tiny bumps (papillate). The central corona boasts red-purple, heart-shaped lobes. At the base of each lobe's inner corner, a pair of small ear-like structures is present. These lobes then end in a short, pointed beak that's either the same length as, or shorter than, the long, narrow appendages attached to the stamens (male reproductive parts) of the flower. The flowers are held aloft by slender stalks about 2.5 cm long, and emerge from the junction of leaves and stems in clusters called pseudumbels. Interestingly, these clusters are supported by a very short and thickened stalk.
Seedpods are sickle shaped, about 10 cm, slender, smooth.
Flowering: August.