𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀: Scindapsus coriaceus, Scindapsus borneensis, Scindapsus coriaceus Variegated, Scindapsus coriaceus Variegata, Scindapsus coriaceus Aurea
𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: Araceae
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘂𝘀: Scindapsus
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀: Scindapsus coriaceus Engl.
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: Accepted botanical species
𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻 / 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Borneo; originally described from material collected in Sarawak
Scindapsus coriaceus is an accepted botanical species described by Adolf Engler in 1879. The original material was collected by Odoardo Beccari in Sarawak, Borneo.
Scindapsus borneensis Engl. & K.Krause was described separately in 1908 from material collected in Indonesian Borneo. It is currently treated by Plants of the World Online as a synonym of Scindapsus coriaceus. However, the taxonomic history is not entirely uniform. Specialist work on Bornean Scindapsus has treated S. borneensis and S. coriaceus separately, illustrating the difficulty of distinguishing members of this group. The historical name S. borneensis is therefore important to retain when tracing the botanical literature.
Scindapsus coriaceus is a climbing plant with relatively narrow, elongated leaves. Mature foliage is thick and firm, with a leathery texture. The leaves are generally elliptic to elongated, can be somewhat unequal from one side to the other, and may become clustered toward the ends of growing shoots. The main side veins can be difficult to distinguish, while the finer network of veins is often inconspicuous. These characteristics are documented for the botanical species and should not be confused with variegation patterns seen in cultivated plants.
Variegated Scindapsus coriaceus is also established in horticultural circulation. Plants are encountered under descriptive labels including “Scindapsus coriaceus Variegated,” “Scindapsus coriaceus Variegata,” and “Scindapsus coriaceus Aurea.” Plants labelled Aurea show yellow to yellow-green variegation that can occur as streaks, broader lengthwise areas, or larger irregular portions of the leaf. The amount and placement can vary considerably between leaves.
“Aurea” is used horticulturally to describe the yellow or golden character of the variegation. Current evidence does not establish Scindapsus coriaceus Aurea as a separately published botanical variety or demonstrate that plants carrying the label represent a single documented cultivar or lineage. Likewise, Variegated and Variegata are descriptive horticultural terms rather than evidence of separate botanical taxa.
The accepted botanical identity of Scindapsus coriaceus is established. The precise origins, ancestry and number of independently occurring variegated plants now circulating horticulturally under Variegated, Variegata and Aurea labels have not been documented.
Research current as of September 2026.