𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀: Scindapsus borneensis
𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: Araceae
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘂𝘀: Scindapsus
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀: Scindapsus coriaceus
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: Historical botanical name; currently treated as a heterotypic synonym of Scindapsus coriaceus
𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻 / 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Borneo; described from material collected in Indonesian Borneo
Scindapsus borneensis Engl. & K.Krause is a formally published botanical name dating to 1908. It was described as a species separate from Scindapsus coriaceus, which had been published earlier by Adolf Engler in 1879.
The two names were based on different type specimens. Scindapsus borneensis was based on Hallier 3406, while Scindapsus coriaceus was based on Beccari P.B. 1671. This is why borneensis is described today as a heterotypic synonym: the names originated from different type specimens that were originally treated separately but are now considered to represent the same species.
Under current taxonomic treatment followed by Kew, Scindapsus borneensis is not accepted as a separate species. It is placed as a synonym of Scindapsus coriaceus, making Scindapsus coriaceus the currently accepted botanical name.
Under that current species treatment, Scindapsus coriaceus is described as a medium-sized climbing plant with smooth, rounded stems and relatively thick, stiffly leathery foliage. The leaf blades are narrowly elliptic to oblong-lanceolate and characteristically somewhat asymmetrical or oblique. The main lateral veins are only weakly distinguishable from the intervening veins, while the finer venation is generally difficult to see. Leaves may become clustered toward the ends of actively growing shoots. These characters are consistent with the broader Scindapsus Coriaceus Complex, whose members are noted for thick leathery leaves, obscure venation and smooth stems.
The taxonomic history has not been entirely uniform. Specialist literature dealing with Bornean Scindapsus has previously treated Scindapsus borneensis and Scindapsus coriaceus separately within the Scindapsus Coriaceus Complex. Members of this group can be morphologically similar, and historical differences in interpretation help explain why both names appear in botanical literature.
For practical purposes, a plant identified according to the current accepted treatment would be called Scindapsus coriaceus rather than Scindapsus borneensis. The name borneensis remains important, however, because it is a legitimate historical botanical name and continues to provide a trail to older specimens, literature, and taxonomic records.
Variegated plants are also encountered horticulturally under Scindapsus coriaceus Variegated or Scindapsus coriaceus Variegata. Their circulation does not establish a separate botanical species, and documentation connecting a particular variegated horticultural plant directly to the original Scindapsus borneensis type has not been identified.
Research current as of September 2026.