#Pinanga #subterranea (Arecaceae) is a recently described #palm that flowers and bears fruit #underground. Evolution of underground growth of normally above-ground shoots happened several times convergently, e.g. in #Nepenthes #pudica (Borneo) and #Rhizanthella (Australia). All might be i.a. adapted to seasonal drought.

© #StefanFWirth Berlin 24

Source:
B. G. Kuhnhäuser (2023):
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10393

Photo:
P. subterranea, by A. Randi, 2023,
lic. under the Cr. Com. Attr. 4.0 Int. license

[…] in the newly described Pinanga subterranea, which is also acaulescent, flowers and fruits usually remain entirely below ground. Consequently, even mature palms are inconspicuous and easily mistaken for seedlings.

Given that the palm is widely known by indigenous people, it is perhaps surprising that Pinanga subterranea has until now escaped scientific description by botanists.

🔗 https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.10393

/cc [ @plants | #Pinanga | #Arecaceae | #geoflory | #geocarpy | #Indonesia 🇮🇩 | #Malaysia 🇲🇾 | #Borneo ]