Tuesday, March 3, 2026

[Botany • 2026] Homalomena lingua-felis (Araceae: Philodendreae) • A New densely-haired aroid Species of Homalomena from North Sumatra, Indonesia

 

Homalomena lingua-felis A.S.D.Irsyam, Raynalta & M.R.Hariri, 

in Muzzazinah, Damayanti, Fadhil, Raynalta, Husaini, Rivai, Setiawan, Irsyam, Rosleine, Pratami, Hariri et Ariati, 2026. 

Abstract
Homalomena lingua-felis is newly described from Tapanuli (North Sumatra Province, Indonesia). This species resembles H. pexa from which can be easily distinguished by its shorter petiole (2.0–4.5 cm vs. 7.0–12 cm), papillate petiole (vs. densely white-tomentose), elliptic or cordate to ovate leaf shape (vs. oblong- to ovate-cordiform), papillate abaxial leaf surface (vs. sparsely hairy), papillate veins (vs. tomentose), papillate peduncle and spathe (vs. tomentose), pendulous peduncle (vs. semi-erect to declinate), and conical staminate flower zone (vs. ellipsoid). This novelty represents a continuation of discoveries on hairy Homalomena in Sumatra.

Key words: Araceae, Chamaecladon, Indonesia, Malesia, Philodendreae

Homalomena lingua-felis A.S.D.Irsyam, Raynalta & M.R.Hariri, sp. nov.
A. Habit; B. Adaxial surface of leaf showing dense hairs; C. Bulbous hair in adaxial leaf surface (59.4×); D. Papillose abaxial leaf surface (59.4×); E. Pendulous synflorescence; F. Bloom at late staminate anthesis with half and full spathe artificially removed; G. Bloom at late pistillate anthesis with half spathe artificially removed (20.7×).
Photos by Erick Raynalta (A, B, E) and Muhammad Rifqi Hariri (C, D, F, G).

Homalomena lingua-felis A.S.D.Irsyam, Raynalta & M.R.Hariri, sp. nov.
 
Diagnosis. Homalomena lingua-felis is similar to H. pexa but differs by having shorter petiole (2.0–4.5 cm vs. 7.0–12 cm), papillate petiole (vs. densely white-tomentose), elliptic or cordate to ovate leaf shape (vs. oblong- to ovate-cordiform), papillate abaxial leaf surface (vs. sparsely hairy), papillate veins (vs. tomentose), papillate peduncle and spathe (vs. tomentose), pendulous peduncle (vs. semi-erect to declinate), and conical staminate flower zone (vs. ellipsoid).

Etymology. The specific epithet lingua-felis is derived from the Latin lingua (tongue) and feles (cat), in reference to the characteristic texture of the leaf surface, which bears a resemblance to the rough surface of a feline tongue.


 Muzzazinah, Inggar Damayanti, Muhammad Hisyam Fadhil, Erick Raynalta, Iin Pertiwi Amin Husaini, Reza Ramdan Rivai, Ade Agus Setiawan, Arifin Surya Dwipa Irsyam, Dian Rosleine, Mentari Putri Pratami, Muhammad Rifqi Hariri and Siti Roosita Ariati. 2026. A New densely-haired aroid Species of Homalomena (Araceae) from North Sumatra, Indonesia. PhytoKeys. 271: 161-172. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.271.172410 [02 Mar 2026]