hidden flowers

June 28, 2023 12:07 PM

The palm that flowers underground "Some inches into the dirt however, structures start to emerge – an entire cluster of fruit, a stem and a crownshaft (the base of the leaves on palm plants), all buried in the soil. The entire reproductive structure existing below the surface means that the flowers are underground too. Highly unusual, even here in this place of great natural diversity."
posted by dhruva (12 comments total)

Fascinating, thanks!
posted by snofoam at 12:29 PM on June 28, 2023

This is so cool!

Now at random moments of my life the question will visit me, I wonder who pollinates Pinanga subterranea?

These folks might know...

At the time the hidden features of this particular palm were being uncovered by the research team, the plant had at least four names in at least three Bornean languages: Pinang Tanah in Malay, Tudong Pelandok in Iban, and Pinang Pipit or Murina Pelandok in Kendorih. In some Indonesian communities the fruits dug up by Paul Chai in the 90s have been a known food resource for generations.

posted by away for regrooving at 12:33 PM on June 28, 2023 [2 favorites]

They might, though it's not hard to imagine the underground part of the tree not being of much interest until there's ripe fruit to be had.

(I bet it's ants)
posted by timdiggerm at 12:50 PM on June 28, 2023 [2 favorites]

Bornean suids such as this bearded pig are so far the most likely seed dispersers of the underground palm

Wow. Bearded pigs have a very distinguished look.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:17 PM on June 28, 2023 [1 favorite]

Thanks for this. Also: Hipster pigs! How delightful!
posted by meehawl at 1:24 PM on June 28, 2023 [1 favorite]

Previously, the Rhizanthella orchid mentioned in the article.

Someone in that thread says the orchid is pollinated by termites.
posted by jamjam at 2:16 PM on June 28, 2023 [2 favorites]

(I bet it's ants)

Aldous Huxley, at least, seems to classify termites as ants, since in one of his letters he refers to certain relatives as 'termites' and then goes on to explain 'great white aunts' in a parenthetical.
posted by jamjam at 2:28 PM on June 28, 2023

Very, very cool, dhruva :)

Thank you for sharing.

On a tangential note:

I had long assumed that Aspidistra elatior (cast-iron plant) was non-flowering; but I was pleasantly-surprised to find my understanding corrected a few years ago at a Client's house . . . lovely 8-pointed, cream-and-purple-ish flowers at the crown (which is well-below the fronds, and usually covered with mulch, leaf-litter, etc.).

btw, jamjam (with no insult to either you, or Aldous), termites belong to the Blattodea order, and are cladistic (thus effectively) off-shoots of cockroaches ;)
posted by splifingate at 3:48 PM on June 28, 2023 [1 favorite]

No offense taken, splifingate, I really appreciate knowing that. I hadn't thought of Huxley's letter since well before I got on the Internet, and when it last occurred to me before today, I remember wondering whether Huxley was right in his implied assertion.

And since I seem to be abrim with literary references in this thread, I am reminded that George Orwell declared that the Victorian popularity of Aspidistra as a houseplant was due to its ability to tolerate the high carbon monoxide levels of water gas natural gas supplies, which if Samuel Clemens' incandescently furious letters to his gas suppliers on the other side of the Atlantic are any guide, may not have included automatic shutoff valves when supply pressure fell too low to sustain pilot lights.
posted by jamjam at 6:00 PM on June 28, 2023 [1 favorite]

Aspidistra flowers are apparently pollinated by slugs, which makes sense with their growing at ground level, supposing the slugs don't just eat the flowers. Aspidistras are supposed to tolerate not only gas fumes, but the low light levels in Victorian parlors - terrariums (terraria) containing ferns were popular for similar reasons. In my experience, they may tolerate those conditions, but they keel over and die when exposed to the tiniest amount of London tap water.
posted by Fuchsoid at 2:51 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

jamjam wrote:

"I seem to be abrim with literary references in this thread"

You are, and I am gratified that it is not only I who is edified :)

It's eternally amazing to me to experience such robust hardiness in the plant world.

As Fuchsoid stated, "Aspidistra flowers are apparently pollinated by slugs" (and as dhruva originally brought-to-light), the reclassification of the assumption that 'flowers' are designed to be in-your-face is (at least, personally) quite profound.

I probably should have chosen the path of Teh Botanist *shrugs*
posted by splifingate at 4:47 PM on June 29, 2023

"London tap water."

I admit to living my life across Teh Pond, but it's quite difficult to extract myself from the *cringe* in my reaction to the supplying of any plant with 'tap' water (no matter the locale) ;)

This is why I've chosen the 'live; and let live' strategy with-regards to my personal Stock...

...if they can't survive, I really can't be arsed with trying to nurse 'em.
posted by splifingate at 4:59 PM on June 29, 2023