Rhaphidophora hayi

Rhaphidophora hayi, described by Boyce and Bogner, is an adhesive climbing aroid from wet tropical forest spanning Papuasia to northern Queensland. Its stem follows tree trunks and firm surfaces closely, attaching by roots at the nodes while the entire leaves remain pressed flat against the support in a permanent shingling arrangement. The overlapping blades of this species create a characteristic roof-tile formation (the origin of its common name), and this pattern distinguishes hayi from related Rhaphidophoras that eventually produce projecting or divided adult foliage. Short internodes, adhesive roots and entire green leaves held completely flat are the defining features; the plant never leaves the shingling phase. In cultivation, hayi is grown mounted on flat bark panels, where it spreads laterally in a manner as architectural as it is botanical.

Native range

Papuasia to northern Queensland (wet tropical forest)

Classification

Genus

Rhaphidophora

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Permanently shingling, adhesive climber

Morphology

Leaf shape

Entire, ovateEgg-shaped leaves, with the wider end near the base. to elliptic, held flat against substrate in roof-tile overlapping pattern

Leaf length

3-8 cm

Leaf width

2-5 cm

Petiole colour

Very short, green

Venation

Visible on entire green blade

Texture

Semi-glossy, thin to moderately coriaceous

Variegation

None

Growth habit

Permanently shingling with overlapping roof-tile leaf arrangement, adhesive roots, short internodes