Plant Datasheet for Costus scaber Central American forms

R2971 - I have seen this plant several places in Costa Rica and I believe it is a form of Costus scaber that is different from the form commonly found in horticulture (under the incorrect name of Costus spicatus). The plant was about 2 meters tall with straight stems about 1 cm in diameter at the base. The ligules were .8 cm long, truncate and had fibers at the margins. The leaves mid way up were 22 cm long by 8 cm wide and glabrous except for a single line of minute hairs along the midrib on the upper side (characteristic of C. scaber). The bracts were red, minutely puberulous, 2.8 cm by 3.8 cm. Bracteoles red, minutely pub., 1.3 cm by .3 cm (long and narrrow) and the normal boat shaped. The calyx was also red, min. pub., .6 cm long by .8 cm wide (short and wide). The Corolla lobes were red-orange, 3 cm long by 1 cm wide and glabrous. The stamen was red-orange at the base and clear yellow at the apex, 2.5 cm long by .8 cm wide. The labellum was also red orange and yellow at apex, 2.5 cm long by 1.3 cm wide. The stigma was shallowly lobed.

R3294 - Form of the species that is common at high altitudes in the Tilaran mountains of Costa Rica. It was found growing at Monteverde near the Continental Divide between 1500 and 1700 meters.

ACCESSION NOTES:
R2971 from Costa Rica, Cerro Nara near Quepos. This collection has been vouchered at the UC Berkeley, Jepsen Herbarium, UC2045817.

R3294 from Costa Rica, Monteverde