Rhaphidophora hayi
Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Tracheophytes
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Genus: Rhaphidophora
Species: hayi
Occurence: Rhaphidophora hayi, also called as the shingle plant or vine, is native to Queensland and New Guinea. It grows in monsoon forests and rain forests. It is also grown as a houseplant for ornamnetal use. It is an unusual plant with dark green foliage leaves. These plants love to shingle and will do that for support. These plants need to be watered only when the soil is dry and must not remain wet for long. They thrive well in bright yet indirect light. This plant gets its common name from the way it climbs.
This plant prefers medium to indirect light and above-average humidity levels. It can suffer if the air is too dry. It depends upon medium water needs as well and is beneficial as it is known to purify air.
Structure: It is evergreen, robust & a climbing plant, the flowers of which are bisexual. The flowers are capable of producing many, ellipsoid, straight seeds with a brittle or smooth testa (outer coat).
As it grows, it produces aerial roots along its stem that secure it to a vertical surface. Its foliage also tends to grow flat against the support thereby giving the effect of lush green roof shingles. This climbing houseplant grows and looks best with a porous support on which it ascends. It shows relatively slower growth but can get several feet tall indoors. Eventually, it will become a striking floor plant if good care is taken. It is a popular aroid, and is closely related to Monstera.
The bracts are shed after flowering. The ovules are eight or more in number. They are placed on the the two parietal placentas of the ovary. The plants are capable of begininng life as a seed and sending roots to the soil. They may also begin life as terrestrial plants that climb a tree and then sends the roots back to the soil. In rare cases, some species may also grow in fast-flowing water.
The leaf venation is parallel with veins running from parallel for the length of the leaf. The leaves are pinnate to reticulate. The leaf margin is entire. If the leaf blade is torn, many hair become apparent.