Flora of Papua New Guinea 
Lae National Herbarium 
i 
1 0053 Costaceae 
Tapeinochilos cf. hollrungii K. Schum. 
East Sepik Province, near Langu village; from margins of Metroxylon 
swamp and on lower slopes of adjacent hills, elev. 40-200 m, near 4° 
11’ S, 142° 44’ E. 
assurgent herb to several meters height, mostly restricted to the 
Metroxylon swamp (elev. 40 m), common, populations flowering; plant 
sparingly ramiform, soboliferous, the branches obliquely diverging in 
verticels with spikes in the axils; inflorescence massive, erect, to 23 
cm x 15 cm, bracts deep purple, firm, polystichous (approx. 13- 
seriate), acuminate-ovate, margin and apices involute; leaves 
alternate, plane, secund on sinistrorsely turned axes, lamina somewhat 
fleshy, glabrous, elliptic, stem leaves to 21 cm x 7 cm, apex acuminate 
(apiculate on the acumen), margin entire, base obtuse, petiole c. 2 
mm, flat above; leaf venation unicostate, pinnate, laterals numerous, 
filiform, severely oblique, arcuate and connivent at the leaf apex, costa 
impressed above, prominulous beneath. 
Waskuk name-yanga.’ The sugary sap from young plants is sucked 
as an energy boost by tired hunters and hikers. The exudate is also 
reportedly a palliative for coughs. 
Birds and butterflies are said to be attracted to the liquid trapped in the 
bract axils. 
coll: W. Takeuchi 10053 
date: August 15,1 994 
det. WT 
t 
X 
