Marantaceae

Niissalo, Matti A., Khew, Gillian S., Webb, Edward L. & Leong-Škorničková, Jana, 2016, Notes on Singaporean native Zingiberales II: revision of Marantaceae, with a new generic record and notes on naturalised and commonly cultivated exotic species, Phytotaxa 289 (3), pp. 201-224 : 219-220

Key to Singapore Marantaceae

1. Plants rosulate only with a short (<1 m) simple stem that supports an inflorescence; Leaves generally basal, at most a single laminate leaf on a prominent stem, always associated with an inflorescence..........................................................................................2.

1. Shrubs with a tall (> 1.5 m) aerial stem with several orders of branching and many leaves; all leaves on prominent stems...........7.

2. Large plant with leaves over 1 m tall................................................................................................................................................3.

2. Small plant to 0.9 m tall, including leaves, usually shorter...............................................................................................................6.

3. Synflorescence terminal on a leafy stem...........................................................................................................................................4.

3. Synflorescence radical, on a stem protected by several bract-like scales.........................................................................................5.

4. Leaves green, with a pink shine on the abaxial surface when young: on flowering plants the uppermost leaf on top of a prominent stem (60–70 cm), inflorescence emerging from the base of the uppermost leaf...................................................... Phrynium hirtum

4. Leaves green with prominent dark green striation; inflorescence emerging through the leaf-sheaths at 3–4 cm height..................... ............................................................................................................................................................................ Phrynium villosulum

5. Underside of leaves with a distinctly coloured band on one margin; inflorescences with persistent yellow-green bracts and small (2 cm) white flowers.................................................................................................................................. Stachyphrynium latifolium

5. Underside of leaves uniform in colour; inflorescence with large deciduous pink bracts and small (2 cm) pale purple flowers......... .................................................................................................................................................................... Thaumatococcus daniellii

6. Leaves 16–27 cm; with a prominent terminal, leafless inflorescence (but rarely similar in inflorescence structure to the next species)............................................................................................................................................................... Stachyphrynium parvum

6. Leaves 26–28 cm; on flowering plants the uppermost leaf on top of a prominent stem, inflorescence emerging from the base of the uppermost leaf ................................................................................................................................................................ Phrynium sp.

7. Leaves (16–) 23–27 cm; inflorescence variable, but usually pendulous and often heavily branched, flower 1.7–1.9 cm ................... ............................................................................................................................................................................... Donax canniformis

7. Leaves 8–14 cm; inflorescence upright, rarely branched, flower ca. 3.5 cm ................................... Schumannianthus benthamianus