Tropical Cobra lily (Arisaema filiforme)

Product description

This rare Arisaema species is found in the rainforests of Indonesia, including Sumatra, Java and Borneo. There, it grows in the shady, moist understory of the forest. There are differences in flower colour between populations on the different islands, with purple and green varieties. The purple variant is mostly found on Sumatra, while the green variant is more commonly found on Borneo. In the photos, you can see the colour difference between two inflorescences. 

The inflorescence consists of a forward-curving, long bract (6 cm) and a long, narrow spadix (up to 24 cm) that grows sinuously in a curve downwards. The inflorescence develops from an underground rhizome, once it contains enough energy to enable short-term flowering. Leaves up to 60 cm high have a mottled petiole and 1 or 2 leaves are formed at a time. In Arisaema species from colder regions, the inflorescence grows from the same stem as the leaves, but in this tropical species, the stems of the inflorescence and the leaves grow separately from each other from the underground thickening. 

The species can be kept as a houseplant in a light location without direct sunlight. Provide well-drained soil and keep it constantly slightly moist. Unlike other Arisaema species, this tropical species has no dormancy period, so leaves will always be visible. 

Sowing description: The already germinated seed can further develop into Sphagnum moss. When the first leaves form, it can be transferred to well-drained soil with organic matter.