Cercestis mirabilis (N.E. Br.) Bogner
The African Embossed Plant

Synonyms: Rhektophyllum mirabilis, Rhektophyllum mirabile
Nephthytis picturata, Rhektophyllum congense  
(Often incorrectly spelled "Cercestes"  on the internet)

 

Sometimes I find rare specimens in unusual places.  I sometimes scan eBay looking for new species, however, a major problem with eBay is many sellers don't do their homework and sell plants using either totally "made-up" pseudo-scientific names or completely wrong names.  In addition, far too often on eBay sellers claim a plant is "rare" when in fact it is both commonly and inexpensively available.  The seller of this plant didn't claim either.  But my eyes told me immediately I wanted Cercestis mirabili in my collection!  When I first saw the plant early in 2005 the photo on the page almost jumped off the screen!  I had found an aroid I simply had to possess.  And this one is truly rare in both nature and in collections.

Cercestis mirabilis was formerly known scientifically by several scientific names including Rhektophyllum mirabilis, or sometimes Rhektophyllum mirabile, and others.  The genus Rhektophyllum is no longer scientifically recognized and is therefore no longer used.  But the price on that first auction went out of sight.  So I waited a few weeks and contacted the seller trying to find more information about the species.  That seller was a very knowledgeable grower who loves to trade.   And after a few email exchanges she inquired if I had anything unusual I would trade for a specimen.  I did! 

A most unusual aroid, C. mirabilis is found naturally in the tropical African countries of  Uganda, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea,  Gabon, Zaire, Benin, Nigeria, and Angola.  Internet sites sometimes claim it is from Kenya but no scientific evidence to support that claim can be found.  Cercestis mirabilis can climb in the African rain forest to a height of 20 to 30 feet (approximately 7 to 10 meters). The epiphytic (tree climbing) specimen possesses long roots which hang to the the ground from high on the host tree.  And, like many aroids, as it matures a specimen morphs into a plant with a totally different color and shape!  Note the mid adult leaf to the left.  The colors have begun to turn more yellow and the pattern is beginning to fade.  Eventually, the pattern is completely lost and the blade become substantially larger and less attractive.

Look closely at the photographs of the more juvenile leaf blades.  The white areas of a juvenile Cercestis mirabilis are puffed and raised well above the darker green areas.  The plant appears to have been placed in an embossing machine and stamped (which is why I chose to call it the African Embossed Plant)!  You can not only see it, you can feel the raised puffed areas.  What is even more amazing is Cercestis mirabilis seems to have another plant carefully painted on it's leaves.  Those leaves can grow to as long as 17 inches (43cm).  Some botanists theorize this is C. mirabilis'  method of fooling animals who might otherwise eat it for lunch.  That "painted" plant resembles a fern and ferns are frequently left uneaten.  The scientific theory is the plant protects itself by mimicking a plant that is less appealing to grazing animals. 

The plant, as you see it in most of my photos, is still in the juvenile form.  By the second year of growth the leaves begin to mature and in the third year many are fully mature.  As it matures, the delicate pattern fades.  As it matures the leaf shape changes to a totally different form.  The lobes become much more prominent, divided, and perforated leaves.  The embossed pattern eventually vanishes.  Only the newest leaves will eventually possess embossed "fern".

In its adult form, Cercestis mirabilis is a climber and it will attempt to find a tree or something else to which it can attach.  C. mirabilis is an aroid and as such produces an inflorescence which many people call a "flower".  The inflorescence, composed of a spathe and spadix, is not a flower at all!  Instead, the spathe is a modified leaf designed to protect the spadix.  The actual very tiny flowers can be found growing along the shaft of the spadix.  The spathe is pale yellow on both sides with the male portion of spadix being a creamy yellow while the female portions of the spadix are pinkish.

While in its juvenile stage the plant is a runner spreading across the forest floor.  The runners (known to science as flagellas) can grow quite long and in our case completely encircle the plant's basket three times.  That stunning growth happened in less than one year and new plants are forming at both the end and along portions of the flagella.  We have been able to remove the two end starts which were rooted and plant them in the same basket. 

For some reason sites (including this one) have listed the name of Cercestis mirabilis on the web with the incorrect spelling of "Cercestes mirabilis" (with and e, instead of an i).  I had that pointed out in an email from a plant collector in Poland.  I verified the spelling is correctly Cercestis mirabilis via TROPICOS, the official plant name website of the Missouri Botanical Garden and on the pages of the text AROIDS, Plants of the Arum Family.  Although some growers have claimed Cercestis mirabilis is difficult to grow,  I do not find it difficult to grow or maintain.  Some, including one large tropical plant retailers in the U.S., discouraged me from even trying to grow it saying it is "impossible" to grow. 

We give the plant subdued light, perhaps 60% shade, along with frequent watering and high humidity which we attempt to maintain at above 85%.  During the summer we keep it damp but in the winter allow it to dry a bit.  Like many of our rarer plants we have it planted in a mixture of good potting soil, peat, Perlite, and orchid bark with a good helping of crushed volcanic rock.  This mixture helps hold moisture and releases minerals into the soil.  Apparently this specimen appreciates where and how it is growing. 

One word of caution.  If cut the small plants from the flagella too soon they will not survive.  They  must begin to develop their own root system before being removed from the flagella.  Several of our small plants have found the soil and are now beginning to develop as new specimens capable of surviving on their own.  However, overall this species is a very slow grower. 

Our original specimen was a trade from Windy Aubrey of the Hawaiian island of Oahu who graciously traded this plant for a small Anthurium schlechtendalii.  You can see the parent plant on our homepage.  I think I got the better deal.  By the way, if you're a plant trader, I love to trade!

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All Photographs © 2007, 2008 Steve Lucas, The Exotic Rainforest