Rhaphidophora guamensis
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| Rhaphidophora guamensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Genus: | Rhaphidophora |
| Species: | R. guamensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhaphidophora guamensis P.C.Boyce (2001) | |
| Synonyms | |
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None | |
Rhaphidophora guamensis is a climbing plant in the family Araceae that is endemic to the island of Guam in the Mariana Islands.[1]
Rhaphidophora guamensis is a moderately-robust, medium-sized liana. It features leptocauly (slender primary stem with many branches). It is heterophyllous, meaning that it produces two distinct kinds of leaves.[1]
Range and habitat
The species is only known to exist on the island of Guam, where it can be found in mixed forests, coconut plantations and on limestone.[1]
Taxonomy
Peter C. Boyce proposed 9 groups of the Rhaphidophora genus, grouping Rhaphidophora guamensis in the "Spathacea (Hollrungii) Group" with other species from Australia, New Guinea, and Micronesia (Rhaphidophora australasica, Rhaphidophora spathacea, Rhaphidophora versteegii and Rhaphidophora waria).[2] It is most similar to Rhaphidophora spathacea from New Guinea and the Caroline Islands but has several distinguishing features.[3]