Lagenandra dewitii is a species of flowering plant placed in the arum family, Araceae. It was formally recognized for science in 1986 from a combination of living cultivated plants and dried herbarium material. The name commemorates the botanist Hendrik de Wit, who made contributions to the study of tropical plants and aroid taxonomy; the epithet reflects that dedication.

Overview and relationships

Lagenandra species are small to medium-sized aroids often associated with permanently or seasonally wet ground, slow-moving water and shaded riparian zones. Lagenandra dewitii belongs to this genus and shares the general aroid floral structure—a spadix of tiny flowers subtended by a protective spathe—typical of the family. Precise ecological or geographic limits for this species are chiefly documented from the specimens cited at its description.

Characteristics

Descriptions of L. dewitii emphasize features used to separate Lagenandra species: leaf shape and venation, the form and coloration of the spathe and spadix, and details of the rhizome and inflorescence. Identification usually relies on a combination of vegetative and reproductive traits preserved in living collections and in herbarium sheets (herbarium material).

Taxonomy and naming

The species was published in 1986 on the basis of both cultivated plants and dried specimens, a common practice when wild material is scarce or when cultivated examples clarify living morphology. The specific name honors the Dutch botanist after whom it is named, following a long botanical tradition of commemorating colleagues.

Uses, conservation and notable facts

There are no widely reported economic uses specific to Lagenandra dewitii, though related species are sometimes cultivated by aroid enthusiasts for their attractive foliage. As with many narrowly known aroid species, assessment of conservation status depends on field surveys and the availability of wild populations; museum and living collections remain important for study and ex situ conservation.