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Calathea crotalifera

S.Watson (1889)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Zingiberales Family: Marantaceae Genus: Calathea

rattlesnake plant

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Caulescent perennial herbs 1.5–3 m tall, with 3–5 basal leaves and 1 cauline leaf per aerial shoot.

Stems:

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades ovate, 30–110 cm long, 15–55 cm wide. Apex obtuse or subacuminate. Upper surfaces glabrate; surfaces dark green with paler green area along midrib on upper surface; lower surfaces grayish green and often tinged purple along margins, chartaceous. Margins entire. Closely parallel S-shaped lateral veins. Petioles 20–185 cm long, glabrate or minutely tomentose, pulvinus glabrous, slightly swollen, sheath tomentose at least along margins. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences 2–5 per shoot, laterally flattened, 10–25 cm long, 4.5–7.5 cm wide, erect but gradually becoming pendent after anthesis, peduncles 11–55 cm long, minutely tomentose, bracts 16–36, pale to dark yellow or greenish yellow, broadly reniform, distichous, persistent, erect, glabrate, minutely pilose along margins, bracteoles present. Flowers bisexual (perfect), zygomorphic. Calyx yellow, 12–21mm long. Corolla yellow to yellowish orange, the tube 31–36 mm long, the lobes unequal, 12–16 mm long, 4–6 mm wide. Staminodes lavender, callose staminode 11– 14 mm long, hooded staminode 6–9 mm long. Ovary inferior, glabrous.

Fruit: Capsules with three seeds; yellow; obovoid; 11–13.5 mm long; the calyx persistent. Seeds dark blue with white aril.

Ploidy: 2n = 22

Habitat: Forest understory.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Only found in cultivation
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Other Animals

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 24: 86 (1889)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1464 (O); Staples & Herbst 2005:698 (KEY), 700 (DESCR); Parker & Parsons 2010:42 (H); Oppenheimer & Bustamente 2014a:20 (EM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Calathea crotalifera Kaneohe Bay Preserved_Specimen Mitchell, D.D. Oahu BISH 1959-01-05
2 Calathea crotalifera SE corner of intersection of Kaneolehua Ave. & Puainako St In field. Preserved_Specimen Herb 2-3 m; leaf deep green above w/yellow-green along midrib, light grey-green below; pulvinus olive-green, petiole & sheath green; bracts yellow, corolla tubes & lobes yellow, staminodes yellow; capsule yellow, seeds dk blue w/whitish aril. Teraoka, W. 33 Hawaii BISH 1979-06-05
3 Calathea crotalifera University of Hawaii campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-05-13
4 Calathea crotalifera E Maui, Hana District, Wakiu, NE of Olopawa Growing in secondary, disturbed, alien forest Preserved_Specimen Herbs, flowers yellow, bracts yellow, to 2 m tall Oppenheimer, H.L. 11304 Maui BISH 2013-01-24
5 Calathea crotalifera E Maui, Hana District, Wakiu, NE of Olopawa Growing in secondary, disturbed, alien forest Preserved_Specimen Herbs, flowers yellow, bracts yellow, to 2 m tall Oppenheimer, H.L. 11304 Maui BISH 2013-01-24
6 Calathea crotalifera Windward Koolau Mountains, Kahaluu Valley, just north of trail to water tunnel Uluhe-covered slope in forest of guava, mountain apple, mango, Cecropia. Preserved_Specimen Clumping herb 9 ft tall, naturalized. Leaf blade 2.5-3 ft long, petiole 6 ft long, blade up to 15 inches wide, dark green above, lighter green below. In flower and fruit. Imada, C. 200707 Oahu BISH 2007-04-16
7 Calathea crotalifera Nanawale Forest Reserve in the Puna District Falcataria moluccana overstory, Psidium cattleianum, Melastoma candidum, Clidemia hirta, Medinilla magnifica. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized. Bio, K.F. 6 Hawaii BISH 2008-07-11
8 Calathea crotalifera Windward Koolau Mountains, Kahaluu Valley Uluhe-covered slope in forest of guava, mountain apple, mango, Cecropia. Preserved_Specimen Clumping herb 9 ft tall, naturalized. Leaf blade 2.5-3 ft long, petiole 6 ft long, blade up to 15 inches wide, dark green above, lighter green below. In flower and fruit. Imada, C. 200707 Oahu BISH 2007-04-16
9 Calathea crotalifera SE corner of intersection of Kaneolehua Ave. & Puainako St In field. Preserved_Specimen Herb 2-3 m; leaf deep green above w/yellow-green along midrib, light grey-green below; pulvinus olive-green, petiole & sheath green; bracts yellow, corolla tubes & lobes yellow, staminodes yellow; capsule yellow, seeds dk blue w/whitish aril. Teraoka, W. 33 Hawaii BISH 1979-06-05
10 Calathea crotalifera Koolaupoko; Kaneohe Forest Reserve; below Puu Lanihuli Naturalized & not uncommon at foot of talus. Preserved_Specimen Flrs orange, bracts pale yellow. Nagata, K.M. 3486 Oahu BISH 1986-05-12
11 Calathea crotalifera Nanawale Forest Reserve in the Puna District Falcataria moluccana overstory, Psidium cattleianum, Melastoma candidum, Clidemia hirta, Medinilla magnifica. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized. Bio, K.F. 6 Hawaii BISH 2008-07-11
12 Calathea crotalifera E Maui, Hana District, Wakiu, NE of Olopawa Growing in secondary, disturbed, alien forest Preserved_Specimen Herbs, flowers yellow, bracts yellow, to 2 m tall Oppenheimer, H.L. 11304 Maui BISH 2013-01-24
13 Calathea crotalifera East Maui, Pua O. Entabeni, HC 1 370 Hana Hiway, Haiku Preserved_Specimen Perennial to 2.5 m.; flowers white; bracts yellow. Annable, C.R. 3164 Maui BISH 1996-11-24
14 Calathea crotalifera Koolaupoko; Kaneohe Forest Reserve; below Puu Lanihuli Naturalized & not uncommon at foot of talus. Preserved_Specimen Flrs orange, bracts pale yellow. Nagata, K.M. 3486 Oahu BISH 1986-05-12
15 Calathea crotalifera Manoa, H.S.P.A. Plantation Preserved_Specimen Herb 7 ft. Grant, M.L. 7525 Oahu BISH 1934-10-29
16 Calathea crotalifera Heliconia Valley, Aihualama Division Preserved_Specimen Herb to 8' ht. Inflorescence erect, up to four per node; peducles to 15 length. Bracts yellow. Primary leaves arising from ground, sheathing stem. Leaf accompanying inflorescence at node-petiole often 6' length, 12 width; ovate; upper surface of blade dark green, with velvety sheen and yellowish around midrib Nagata, K.M. 1282 Oahu BISH 1975-09-05
17 Calathea crotalifera Makiki Heights Preserved_Specimen Spike decussate, laterally compressed St.John, H. 21361 Oahu BISH 1945-09-18
18 Calathea crotalifera Lyon Arboretum; Heliconia Valley, Aihualama Division Preserved_Specimen Herb to 8' high; infl. erect, up to 4 per node; peduncles to 15 length; bracts yellow; primary lvs arising from ground, sheathing stem; leaf accompanying infl. at node - petiole often 6' length, 12 width, ovate; upper surface of blade dk green; w/velvety sheen & yellowish around midrib. Nagata, K.M. 1282 Oahu BISH 1975-09-05
19 Calathea crotalifera Old Pali Road, residence of Mrs Lester Marks Preserved_Specimen Flr bracts green, margins gold; flwr yellow w/purplish lobes. Clay, H.F. Oahu BISH 1954-04-07
20 Calathea crotalifera Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 21361 BISH 1945-09-18
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