The Genus Cyrtosperma

IAS on Facebook

IAS on Instagram

The Genus Cyrtosperma

by Wilbert Hetterscheid

With 12 species, Cyrtosperma is a small genus. All species with the exception of C. merkusii are confined to New Guinea and associated islands. The wide spread of C. merkusii in Malesia is certainly due to it being transported by man because it was a major food crop once, though in that capacity it is now in decline.

Cyrtosperma species are slender to gigantic geophytes with a creeping rhizome and heavily armoured with prickly leaf stalks. The flowers are fully bisexual. They are often found in swampy conditions.

More information in Julius Boos' page on Cyrtosperma (click here)

Recent literature:

Dearden, A. & A. Hay, 2000. A new species of Cyrtosperma (Araceae) from West Papua. Aroideana 24: 102 - 104.
Hay, A., 1988. Cyrtosperma (Araceae) and its Old World allies. Blumea 33: 427 - 469.
Thompson, S.A., 1982. Cyrtosperma chamissonis (Araceae): ecology, distribution and economic importance in the South Pacific. J. Agric. Trad. Bot. Appl. 29(2): 185 - 203 (now C. merkusii).

The species list below is based on Govaerts & Frodin, World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae (2002)

Cyrtosperma afzelii (Schott) Engl. = Lasimorpha senegalensis Schott

Cyrtosperma americanum Engl. = Anaphyllopsis americana (Engl.) A. Hay

Cyrtosperma angustilobum Engl. = Podolasia stipitata N.E. Br.

Cyrtosperma bantamense Koord. = C. merkusii

Cyrtosperma beccarianum A. Hay

Cyrtosperma bougainvillense A. Hay

Cyrtosperma brassii A. Hay

Cyrtosperma carrii A. Hay

Cyrtosperma consobrinum Alderw. = C. macrotum

Cyrtosperma cuspidilobum Schott = C. merkusii

Cyrtosperma cuspidispathum Alderw.