We are searching for a plant native to Sierra Leone that has been lost to science for over 100 years.
The last record (above) was is from 1892.
The habitat is grass land under trees.
Please read on to for more information and pictures.
Some pictures that may help as a guide are posted below.
1. Amorphophallus elliotii – herbarium scan which is
not very good for recognizing the species, but maybe
helps.
2.A few photos of flower and fruit and leaves of
similar species but not the same as Amorphophallus
elliotii native to Sierra Leone. The photos should be
taken only as guidelines how more or less the plant
may look. Leafes should be almoast the sma in
A.elliottii according to plant description in book.
Also the bulb should be very similar to the one on
picture.
Important difference is that Amorphophallus elliotii
grows in the forest between grasses, while the other
species on the photos seem to grow in savanna.
The last record show that the Sample is from Wallia here are two possible places
If you think you have seen this plant or have any usefull information on Wallia please contact Jaysbar.
7 users commented in " The search for Amorphophallus elliotii can you help? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackWe 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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