What are "climber plants"?
Climber plants are those that climb trees or rock faces and produce flowers and spores while still standing. In tropical rainforests, most of them change shape dramatically once they reach full growth. Unlike epiphytes, they need their roots to be in the ground, so they are grown in pots. The ones introduced here are best grown in glass cases.
Freycinetia elegantura
It is endemic to eastern Papua New Guinea and grows wild in the highland cloud forests. It is a rare species with very short leaves for a Pandanus, with three leaves overlapping in a row, forming a scale-like shape. Many plants with species names that refer to "elegant" are "good species."
Marcgravia unknown species
An unknown species of Marcgravia from Peru. Unusually for this species, it has clearly defined sawtooth edges and glossy, reflective leaves. Despite its distinctive appearance, it is extremely difficult to identify Marcgravia.
Pothos barberianus
This species is endemic to Borneo and Kalimantan and is characterized by red leaves with prominent reticulated veins. In its natural habitat, the leaves can grow to over 15cm in diameter, but it is quite difficult to grow them large in cultivation.
Curcassia rotondifolia
A plant of the Araceae family native to the Republic of Gabon in Africa. It has beautiful, velvety, dark green leaves with an olive-green color for new shoots. It produces unassuming flowers that resemble those of the Homalomena. Even in its native habitat, it is thought to rarely climb up trees.
Marcgravia unknown species "Millipede"
This tiny Marcgravia was discovered in the lowland rainforest of Iquitos, Peru, and is probably an undescribed species. Its leaves, each about 2cm long, have a beautiful silvery pattern. It is said that bats carry the pollen, but the type of flower it is is still unknown.
