Zamioculcas lanceolata PETER

Note

Description of Zamioculcas lanceolata

Description of Zamioculcas lanceolata

extract from
A. PETER, Die Araceae Deutsch-Ostafrikas.

In: Nachrichten von der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen aus dem Jahre 1929,
Mathematisch-Physikalische Klasse. Heft 3 (1929), pp. 220-221

Zamioculcas lanceolata A. PETER n. spec. (descriptio a planta viva culta). — S. 209, 211. Planta acaulis herbacea silvestris, rhizomate crasso turiones breves emittente. Folia basalia ad 60 cm longa valida viridia; petiolus c. 20 cm longus basi (ad 2 cm) incrassatus sursum attenuatus cylindricus, cum laminae rhachide transverse grosse obscure-maculatus, infra laminam nodoso - geniculatus; lamina ad 40 cm longa pinnata, foliolis utrinque c. 8 alternis vel partim ± oppositis lanceolatis basi in petiolum brevissimum (1—2 mm) attenuatis, apice acuminato - acutis, integerrimis attamen subrepando - undulatis crassiusculis epilosis 10—11 × 3.5—4(—5) cm, margine haud punctatis, sponte deciduis basi tubera demum plantam juvenilem gignentibus. Inflorescentia basalis; pedunculus 4—6 cm longus 0.5 cm crassus teres glaber ± recurvatus; spatha subcoriacea c. 7 cm longa 3 cm lata ovata convoluta haud vaginata (marginibus usque ad basin liberis), basi spadicis partem inferiorem arcte subgloboso - amplectens demum reflexa plana tortuosa (nec cymbiformis) margine integerrimo, apice acuminata (nec infra apicem cornuta) acutissima, extus dilute viridis sed punctis nigricantibus frequentissimis conspersa, intus lurida immaculata laevis 5-nervis. Spadix cylindricus 6 cm longus in triente inferiore constrictus densiflorus albidus inferne flores femineos superne masculos media parte constricta steriles omnes contiguos gerens. Flores spadicis totum apicem 3.5—4 cm longum subclavato - cylindricum rotundato - obtusum occupantes, perigonio tetramero, tepalis 2 exterioribus squamiformibus, interioribus clavatis longitudinaliter complicatis, omnibus apice truncato-rotundatis, staminibus 4 brevibus, pistillo sterili claviformi tepala aequante; flores steriles similes staminibus carentes pistillo rudimentario clavato praediti; florum tepala exteriora conspicue squamiformia interiora clavata, omnia apice truncata, pistillo ovato, stilo brevissimo, stigmate apice transverse - elliptico ceraceo tepalis paullo breviore. — Speciei Z. Loddigesii arcte affinis, a qua foliolis angustioribus tenuioribusque, spatha usque ad basin fissa superne explanata cuspidato - acutissima differt. — Specimina authentica: P 31194. Planta in hortum botanicum Gottingensem viva introducta m. Julio 1928 floruit.

Translation (first draft, incomplete):

        Zamioculcas lanceolata A.PETER n. spec. (description after living cultivated plant). — S. 209, 211.

        Stemless, herbaceous forest plant that develops short sprouts from a thick rhizome. Basal leaves up to 60 cm long, glossy green [? valida viridia]; petiole approx. 20 cm long, at the base (up to 2 cm) thick(ened), upwards [? sursum] attenuated (? narrow) cylindrical(ly), with large, dark-maculated [laminae] across the r(h)achis, below the lamina nodose-geniculated; lamina up to 40 cm long, pinnate, with lanceolate leaves [utrinque] c. 8 alternate or partly ± opposite, [verschmälert-attenuatis] at the base into a very short petiol(ul)e (1-2 mm), the apex acuminate-acute, entire edges [attamen] [subrepando]-undulate with [crassiusculis epilosis]10-11 x 3.5-4(-5) cm, the margin not punctated, [sponte deciduis basi tubera demum plantam juvenilem gignentibus.]. Inflorescence from the basis [? basalis], peduncle (stem) 4-6 cm long and 0,5 cm thick, [teres glaber] ± bent down (backwards ?), spathe [subcoriacea], ca. 7 cm long and 3 cm wide, ovate, rolled [? convoluta] but not sheathed (the margins free to the basis), base close (tight) to the lower part of the spadix, subglobose-[amplectens -stengelumfassend?], later bent backwards, [plana tortuosa] (and not cymbiform) with entire margin, the apex acuminate and pointed sharply (and not with a "horn" [appendix] below the top), the outside light green but covered with many blackish (dark) spots, the inner side yellow(ish), immaculate, slightly 5-veined. The cylindrical spadix 6 cm long, divided in three densely flowered whitish regions, the lower part bearing female flowers, the upper male and the center sterile, all [contiguos]. Male flowers covering the whole, 3,5—4 cm long, subclavate-cylindrical rotundate-obtusate apex of the spadix, with a tetramerous perigone, the 2 outer tepals squamiform, the club-shaped inner ones folded lengthwise, all with a truncate-rounded apex, 4 short stamina, a sterile club-shaped pistil resembling the tepals [annotation: ?]; sterile flowers similar, bearing stamina that are surmounted by a rudimentary club-shaped pistil; outer tepals of female flowers conspicuously squamiform, inner ones club-shaped, all with truncate apex, the pistil ovate, stylus very short, the stigmate apex transverse-elliptical, the ceraceous tepals little shorter. — Closely related to the species Z. Loddigesii, from which it differs by the narrower and thinner leaflets and the cuspidate-sharply pointed spathe [that is] split until to the basis, as explained above. — Type specimens: [Herbarium A. Peter no.:] P 31194. The plant that had been brought to the Göttingen Botanical Garden alive has flowered in the month of July, 1928.

(Annotation: it's been some 20 years since I've translated from Latin (to german) for the last time;
this is the first time I try to translate Latin into English. Any corrections most welcome.)

A. PETER's article:

full (gif images)

transcript (pdf 156 KB)
of all Zamioculcas related passages

transcript (html)
of PETER's habitat records for
Z. lanceolata and
Z. Loddigesii

Key to the species of Zamioculcas

Key to the species of the genus Zamioculcas