Hoya aldrichii

Hoya aldrichii, inflorescence

Hoya aldrichii is a species of the genus of wax flowers ( Hoya ) of the subfamily of milkweed plants ( Asclepiadoideae ). The species is endemic to the belonging to Australia Christmas Island. The Artepithet honors the captain of the research vessel Egeria, Pelham Aldrich, who visited the Christmas Island in 1887.

Features

Hoya aldrichii is a big, long to about 3.5 m, climbing plant with pale, bare branches. The adventitious roots form from the internodes. The persistent leaves have about 1 to 1.5 cm long, thick, slightly flattened stems. The laminae are elliptical in outline rounded at the base and tapered at the outer end. They are 7.5 to 15 cm long and 3.5 to 6 cm wide.

The inflorescence is up to 15 - to 30 - flowered. The inflorescences arise continuously at the apex of the thickened, 6 to 10 cm long peduncle. The flower stalks are 2 to 2.5 cm long and bare. The flower measures 8 mm in diameter. The sepals are 2 mm long and hairy externally weak fluffy. The Kronblattzipfel are about 6 mm long and pointed at the end. They are white or pink colors, outside glabrous, inside densely covered with a short fuzz. The corona is colored pink or deep purple fuchsia with 3 to 4 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, star-shaped protruding Kronblattzipfeln. The flowers are very fragrant.

The pollinia are only slightly winged. The follicles are up to 14 cm long and 5 to 10 mm thick. The seeds are about 5 mm long with a 2 to 3 cm long hair.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The species is a common epiphyte in the bush country of the coastal terraces on Christmas Island.

Taxonomy

William Botting Hemsley described the species for the first time in 1890. The type locality is located north of Flying Fish Cove. The type specimen was in September / October 1887 by JJ Lister and the officers of the research vessel HMS " Egeria " collected.

Trivia

Hoya aldrichii was featured on a stamp issued by the Post of Christmas Island.

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