Lung plant (Rhaphidophora korthalsii)

Tapak paru or lung plant (Rhaphidophora korthalsii) is a plant species in Araceae, climbing, strong up to 20 meters in the nursery stage as young shoots with reference to the orientation of the leaves to match the contours of the substrate. Mature shoots consist of elongated, attached and densely leafy stems.

R. korthalsii grows solitary or several together, the first inflorescence being replaced by a bract and one or more cataphylls, which degrade into netted fibers after emergence of the inflorescence which are substituted by one or more cataphylls.

Infructescences are 14-27 cm long and 3-3.5 cm wide. When unripe it is dark green and ripens to a dull orange. This species grows in moist areas or under shade in primary forest, secondary forest and plantations.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Monsteroideae
Tribe: Monstereae
Genus: Rhaphidophora
Species: Rhaphidophora korthalsii

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