Acranthera sp. 'Copperhead' (Vietnam)

• Origin: Vietnam (?)
• Care: Easy / Medium / Advanced
• Suitable as a houseplant?: Yes / Limited / No
• Suitable locations: plant display case, terrarium
• Special features: Stunningly beautiful Acranthera with copper-colored leaves and a metallic sheen.

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This stunningly beautiful plant likely originates from Vietnam, though there are also reports that it comes from Thailand. Its exact location is unknown. It is described (and described by us) as an Acranthera , but it is definitely something else. Acranthera plants have opposite leaves, while this one has alternate leaves. Therefore, it cannot be an Acranthera . It may not even belong to the Rubiaceae family. We suspect it is more likely a tropical Primulaceae, perhaps a Labisia or Ardisia . Once it flowers here, we will be able to identify it more precisely. To make this plant easier to identify, even if its name changes, we have named it ' Copperhead '. This refers to the coppery color, the shape and structure of the leaves, and the metallic sheen, which is similar to that of the North American copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix ).

It has leaves up to about 22 cm long with a very striking structure and pattern. The leaf veins are dark, black in older plants, and the area between these veins is raised (bullate) and usually brownish or reddish with a velvety, metallic sheen that is difficult to capture in photographs. The leaves vary in color depending on the light intensity. In bright light, they tend to be greenish. Fresh leaves are always reddish. We suspect that this coloration serves as camouflage on the forest floor, making the plant almost invisible among the fallen leaves.

It grows rather flat, similar to most Labisia species , and branches out abundantly.

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You will receive a young plant in a 7 cm pot (see pictures 3 and 4 in the gallery).