Alocasia sanderiana (Kris Plant)

Native to Mindanao in the Philippines, this perennial herb grows in damp ravines within lowland forest. It reaches about two feet tall and develops a creeping to reclining stem. Its arrow-shaped leaves have deeply undulating margins and conspicuous pale veins that contrast with the dark upper surface. Inflorescences are generally paired, with a canoe-shaped spathe surrounding the central spadix. The species is grown as an ornamental foliage plant. It is critically endangered in the wild. Photographed in Colombia.