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Hydnophytum forbesii

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Photo of a wild plant by Andreas Wistuba, who think this is Hydnophytum forbesii.

Author: Joseph Dalton Hooker, 1892
Family:  RUBIACEAE
Origin:  New Guinea
Soil:  Epiphytic
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  25 Centimetres
Height:  50 Centimetres
Flower:  White
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  -
Synonyms:  Hydnophytum moseleyanum, Odoardo Beccari, 1885.

This member of the Rubiaceae family was given this name by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1892. It is found on New Guinea, growing as an epiphyte with lots of water and some sun. The caudex can grow to 25 centimetres or more in diameter, the entire plant to 50 centimetres in height. The flowers are white.

The genera name after Greek hydnon meaning 'tuber' and phyton meaning 'plant', after the swollen branches. The species is named after Mr Forbes, who collected the first plant and send it to KEW.

Hydnophyttnae KEY.