Both Hoya decipulae and Hoya papaschonii are thin-leafed epiphytic shrubs with similarities in its flowering. The flowers however of Hoya decipulae are much larger with the distinctive cage shape. Below Hoya papaschonii on top and Hoya decipulae on the bottom:
Decipula means to catch, ensnare, entrap, or beguile, and in this species refers to the corolla which before it is fully open resembles a trap or cage.
Hoya decipulae was discovered in a mixed hill forest on July 16th, 2017. It grew on Bamboo plants at 783 meters in elevation.
Hoya decipulae is endemic to West Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia in a protected forest.
Hoya sulawesiana is a plant that I have had my struggles with, but it is definitely worth picking up and trying it out for yourself. The leaves are amazing, and it makes a very worthwhile specimen given enough time. The flowers are beautiful, fuzzy and probably the largest in the Acanthstemma Section. For those reasons alone, it is worth searching out!
Both of these flowering at the same time so what the heck!
Photos of the partially reflexed flowers of Hoya sulawesiana are what really drove the early frenzy to obtain this species.
Hoya sulawesiana like many of the Acanthostemma Section of Hoyas is an extremely heavy nectar dripper. Three of these that come to mind really quickly are Hoya sulawesiana, H. sp. MT-02, and H. sp. Sulawesi #1. These Hoyas drip nectar in such large quantities as to make them poor specimens to flower indoors. I have taken to either cutting off their flowers or sealing the entire peduncle with blooms inside of a closed Ziplock plastic bag.
According to the publication paper by S. Rahayu and M. Rodda, Hoya sulawesiana is most closely related to Hoya isabechanae. They are also both in the Acanthostemma section of Hoya and are both endemic to Sulawesi Island. There are however many differences with the biggest being the leaves of the two species. Below the flowers of both species. H. isabelchanae on top and H. sulawesiana on the bottom:
The Title of this post says it all!
