Comments on: The search for Amorphophallus elliotii can you help? http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/ Discover Sierra Leone Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:08:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jane http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Jane Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:34:36 +0000 http://jaysbar.net/new/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/#comment-20 Hi Jane, The message below was sent to me yesterday. I am positively surprised that someone is trying to find the elusive Am. elliottii. It is one of the few Holy Grails failing in my 130-species rich research collection. I don't think there is much to add to what you already know about the species (seeing the weblog). THE most interesting feature from the original diagnosis is the fact that the spathe base is closed and not just two overlapping sides. The species is obviously very closely related with Am. aphyllus and Am. dracontioides and we checked the pollentype, which is exactly the rare echinate type, shared between elliottii and the other two. The leaf is similar to that of the other two, with the individual leaflets lanceolate (as in the photo's you have in your weblog). The one fear I have, after so many decades of this species never found, is that it is just an abnormal form of Am. aphyllus, which is also in Sierra Leone. Anyway, if it is found, I sure hope there is a chance of adding it to our research collection here. Cheerio, Wilbert (Hetterscheid) Wageningen, Netherlands Hi Jane,

The message below was sent to me yesterday. I am positively surprised that
someone is trying to find the elusive Am. elliottii. It is one of the few
Holy Grails failing in my 130-species rich research collection. I don’t
think there is much to add to what you already know about the species
(seeing the weblog). THE most interesting feature from the original
diagnosis is the fact that the spathe base is closed and not just two
overlapping sides. The species is obviously very closely related with Am.
aphyllus and Am. dracontioides and we checked the pollentype, which is
exactly the rare echinate type, shared between elliottii and the other two.
The leaf is similar to that of the other two, with the individual leaflets
lanceolate (as in the photo’s you have in your weblog).

The one fear I have, after so many decades of this species never found, is
that it is just an abnormal form of Am. aphyllus, which is also in Sierra
Leone.

Anyway, if it is found, I sure hope there is a chance of adding it to our
research collection here.

Cheerio,
Wilbert (Hetterscheid)
Wageningen, Netherlands

]]> By: Jane http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Jane Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:11:47 +0000 http://jaysbar.net/new/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/#comment-19 We are still on the search actually and also we have consulted students of the University of Sierra Leone. Anyway we do hope to give you run down of our findings.Really the origin of the town is Bei Wallia. We are still on the search actually and also we have consulted students of the University of Sierra Leone. Anyway we do hope to give you run down of our findings.Really the origin of the town is Bei Wallia.

]]> By: Jane http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Jane Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:38:27 +0000 http://jaysbar.net/new/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/#comment-18 3 Q If I could communicate with you through the blog that would be great. Then we can circulate it to others interested in amorphophallus. A If it suits you better we can communicate throughblog. I am wonder if there are people interested inAmorphophallus in Sierra Leone? That would be great. BTW. I have check files carefully yet and here is detailed description of inflorescense of Amorphophallus elliotii: spathe is pinkish in the lower part, upper part green, mottled with brown, smelling strongly. As I wrote before the sphape can be similar to Amorphophallus dracontioides. 3 Q If I could communicate with you through the
blog that would be great. Then we can circulate it
to others interested in amorphophallus.
A If it suits you better we can communicate throughblog. I am wonder if there are people interested inAmorphophallus in Sierra Leone? That would be great.
BTW. I have check files carefully yet and here is
detailed description of inflorescense of
Amorphophallus elliotii: spathe is pinkish in the
lower part, upper part green, mottled with brown,
smelling strongly. As I wrote before the sphape can be
similar to Amorphophallus dracontioides.

]]> By: Jane http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Jane Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:20:40 +0000 http://jaysbar.net/new/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/#comment-17 Following our visit to the Horticultural Department 2 QThey appear around march at the end of the dry season when the ground is burnt. A Yes, that would be a correct time for blooming of Amorphophallus. Q The man telling us said that they used to beat them down with sticks when they were young because they resembled the boys "tools. A Hence the name - AmorphoPHALLUS Q We are going to the northern provinces on Friday and so we will make further enquiries. A That sounds great! Q Do you think there may be more than one type of amorphophallus in Sierra Leone? A Yes. I have checked my books carefully and there are two more species in Sierra Leone (althorugh both collected a long time ago). I have attached picturesfor your consideration. Amorphophallus aphyllus - it was collected in following location: base of Kasewe Hills; Boundary Commision (this collection was made by the same botanist who discoveried m.elliotii); Kowama (Maje) Amorphophallus baumannii - it was collected fromfollowing locations: Coasi Region - Turing; N.Prov.Nahe Roruks, Kwaoma (Tunkia) Also there is always a possibility of new species to be found. If James could have a look at photos he may know if the plants that he saw when he was younger are similar to these in the photos icnluded. Amorphophallus elliotii finally among all the species resembles the most Amorphophallus dracontioides (photo included), which is said to be its closest realtive. Amorphophallus dracontioides has never been collected from Sierra Leone. Closest of course doesn`t mean thesame. BTW. Have you been able to locate any village or city with name of Wallia? The two places I have found wereWalia, not Wallia so they may be a different place. Following our visit to the Horticultural Department
2 QThey appear around march at the end of the dry season when the ground is burnt.
A Yes, that would be a correct time for blooming of Amorphophallus.
Q The man telling us said that they used to beat them down with sticks when they were young because they resembled the boys “tools.
A Hence the name - AmorphoPHALLUS
Q We are going to the northern provinces on Friday and so we will make further enquiries.
A That sounds great!
Q Do you think there may be more than one type of amorphophallus in Sierra Leone?
A Yes. I have checked my books carefully and there are two more species in Sierra Leone (althorugh both collected a long time ago). I have attached picturesfor your consideration.

Amorphophallus aphyllus - it was collected in
following location: base of Kasewe Hills; Boundary Commision (this collection was made by the same botanist who discoveried m.elliotii); Kowama (Maje)
Amorphophallus baumannii - it was collected fromfollowing locations: Coasi Region - Turing; N.Prov.Nahe Roruks, Kwaoma (Tunkia)
Also there is always a possibility of new species to be found. If James could have a look at photos he may know if the plants that he saw when he was younger are similar to these in the photos icnluded.
Amorphophallus elliotii finally among all the species resembles the most Amorphophallus dracontioides (photo included), which is said to be its closest realtive.
Amorphophallus dracontioides has never been collected from Sierra Leone. Closest of course doesn`t mean thesame.
BTW. Have you been able to locate any village or city with name of Wallia? The two places I have found wereWalia, not Wallia so they may be a different place.

]]> By: Jane http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Jane Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:11:53 +0000 http://jaysbar.net/new/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/#comment-16 With permission here is our discussion to date. 1>Q I have asked around and I just want to check the >spelling of Walia. Are you sure it isn't Walla which >is in the north of the country? A In fact in the scan of herbarium sheet there is clearly Walia - but it can be miswritten or names can change within time (the herbarium information is from 1892, so over 100 years old). Anyway the habitat is grassland under trees, so that is a guidline too. >Q I will make enquiries about the amorphophallus at >the Ministry for Forests and at the university and >with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone. That would be great. the species has been lost for science for over 100 years and finding it for research would be great information. >Please could we ask the question on our blog as well? Yes, sure! With permission here is our discussion to date.
1>Q I have asked around and I just want to check the
>spelling of Walia. Are you sure it isn’t Walla which
>is in the north of the country?
A In fact in the scan of herbarium sheet there is
clearly Walia - but it can be miswritten or names can
change within time (the herbarium information is from
1892, so over 100 years old). Anyway the habitat is
grassland under trees, so that is a guidline too.

>Q I will make enquiries about the amorphophallus at
>the Ministry for Forests and at the university and
>with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone.
That would be great. the species has been lost for
science for over 100 years and finding it for research
would be great information.

>Please could we ask the question on our blog as well?
Yes, sure!

]]> By: Jane http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Jane Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:06:31 +0000 http://jaysbar.net/new/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/#comment-15 The person looking for this plant has given us some helpful information to put on the blog. He is hopimg to find other people interested in Amorphophallus. Please contact him directly through this page and we will post your reply. The person looking for this plant has given us some helpful information to put on the blog.
He is hopimg to find other people interested in Amorphophallus. Please contact him directly through this page and we will post your reply.

]]> By: Jane http://jaysbar.net/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Jane Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:36:12 +0000 http://jaysbar.net/new/2007/11/15/the-search-for-amorphophallus-elliotii-can-you-help/#comment-14 We went to the National Horticultural Department on Friday. When we described it the man there said yes this plant was in the north not only in Walla but also in Lunsar and pepel and Port Loko (all of which is grass land under forrest) in the Northern province. He said it only appears around March at the end of the dry season and after the ground is burnt. He said as children they used to go around hitting the plants down with sticks because they thought it looked too much like their "tools" and they didn't like that. We are going to take a trip to the North next week and we will ask around and try and get more information. We went to the National Horticultural Department on Friday. When we described it the man there said yes this plant was in the north not only in Walla but also in Lunsar and pepel and Port Loko (all of which is grass land under forrest) in the Northern province. He said it only appears around March at the end of the dry season and after the ground is burnt. He said as children they used to go around hitting the plants down with sticks because they thought it looked too much like their “tools” and they didn’t like that. We are going to take a trip to the North next week and we will ask around and try and get more information.

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