Harmsiopanax ingens

Harmsiopanax ingens is a very spiny palmlike mesocaul tree in the family (Araliaceae), endemic to the montane rainforests of central New Guinea which bears a terminal rosette of deeply lobed, dentate margined, usually (but not invariably) peltate leaves 1 m (3 ft 3 in) across, maple-like in shape, on equally long petioles. It ultimately attains a height of 18 m (59 ft), at which point it bears a huge panicle of flowers 5 m (16 ft) high and equally wide; the largest above ground inflorescence of any dicot plant^[1] (although Caloncoba flagelliflora of West Africa,^[2] Ficus geocarpa of the Malay Peninsula,^[3] and Ficus uncinata var. strigosa also of Malaya^[4] have larger subsurface panicles, each about 9 m (30 ft) in length). The panicles are very unusual; the ultimate twigs being spikes each bearing about fifty tiny umbels, each umbel with 8 to 20 minute flowers; thus panicle, spike and umbel are all represented in a single inflorescence.^[1] Harmsiopanax ingens is monocarpic, and again the largest such plant among dicots. It was discovered in 1973 by W. R. Philipson.^[1] Its native name is makua.^[1]