Culcasia rotundifolia

Culcasia rotundifolia is a curious, slow-growing, climbing Araceae from the rainforests of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. And yes, the name is spelled correctly ;) The similarity of the genus name to Colocasia is no coincidence; both derive from the same root word "qulqāṣ," which comes from Aramaic and probably means "turnip" or "artichoke."

Culcasias originate from tropical Africa and are very diverse. Some resemble Spathiphyllum, while others are reminiscent of Philodendron. Culcasia rotundifolia is probably the most curious representative of the genus. This small vine is similar to juvenile Monstera dubia, Scindapsus pictus, or Rhaphidophora korthalsii. The up to 8 cm large, bullate, velvety green to black leaves cling tightly to the substrate, but unlike other aroids that grow this way, this is not a juvenile form that will later grow much larger and develop differently shaped leaves, but rather a fully grown plant! It does not have a differently shaped adult form but has already reached its maximum with leaves of approximately 6 to 8 cm in size. The tiny, rather inconspicuous inflorescences also appear in this form.

The leaves are bullate and velvety. Fresh leaves are initially orange, then light green, and when mature, dark green and velvety with visible small glands. Unfortunately, we could not find out what these glands are for.

It grows slowly but is not difficult to cultivate in a terrarium.

You will receive a rooted cutting with new growth in a 9 cm orchid pot.