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Thottea praetermissa T.L.Yao
| Family Name: | Aristolochiaceae |
Thottea praetermissa is a critically endangered shrub in Singapore and flourishes in shady lowland forests near freshwater swamps. Reaching up to 1.3 m in height, it produces dull purple-red flowers that tend to bloom near to the ground, which suggests that they may be pollinated by flies or beetles.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.5 m to 1.3 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Malaya |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Shrub, growing up to 1.3 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | There are 2 types of leaves: bract-like reduced leaves and foliage leaves. Bract-like reduced leaves are 4-5 leaves on one stem. Foliage leaves are 7-9 leaves on one stem, leaf blade green on upper surface, and pale green beneath the leaves; oblong or lanceolate, measuring 15–22 cm long and 5–7.5 cm across. The leaf base is cuneate, margin entire, apex (tip) acute or shortly mucronate. Petiole is slender, measuring 5 - 10 mm long. |
| Stems | Stems are slender, erect and scarcely branched. The stems are dark green, measuring 4-5 mm in diameter, having dense short hair (puberulent). |
| Flowers | Inflorescence are found at the stem base, close to the ground level. Sometimes, a few younger inflorescences are on the stem well above the ground. Flower is densely pubescent; with bracts narrowly ovate, about 4 by 3 mm, with blunt or acute apex and not clearly distinguishable (obscure) venation. The flowers are erect, dull purple-red on the outer surface and yellow on the inner surface, have 3 lobes, about 0.7 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter; base of flower is contracted into a shallow cup. Flowers have unpleasant smell. |
| Fruit | Capsules are 4-angled twisted pendent, ripening to brown. Measuring about 15 cm long and 4 mm thick, the fruit are densely puberulent. Seeds are ovoid, 2.3 - 2.6 by 4-4.3 mm and 3-angled with bumpy surface. |
| Habitat | Found growing in lowland forest in heavily shaded undergrowth, on damp soil close to a freshwater swamp. |
| Similar | Closely similar to T. beccarii where the inflorescence is located at the stem base, but the inflorescence for T. beccarii has loosely arranged bracts and saucer-shaped perianth. Also similar to T. dependens for its oblong-shaped leaves with cuneate base and acute to mucronate tip, but the under surface of T. dependens is not pale green and the perianth is saucer-shaped, unlike T. praetermissa which has waxy layer on the grey-green undersides (glaucous). |
| Etymology | The species epithet praetermissa is from Latin, praetermissus which means overlooked, as it was not previously recognized as a distinct species. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Shade, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery, Leathery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong, Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute, Mucronate |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Bumpy / Tuberculate |
References
| References | <1> Kiew, R. & al. (eds.) (2015). Flora of Peninsular Malaysia. Series II: Seed Plants, volume 5. Malayan Forest Records 49: 1-319. <2> T.L. Yao (2013). Nine new species of Thottea (Aristolochiaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, with two taxa in Peninsular Malaysia redefined and a taxon lectotypified. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Vol 5, Aristolochiaceea. Blumea - Biodiversity Evolution and Biogeography of Plants 58:245-262 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34007 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8423 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
