Philodendron unknown found near Chocó, Colombia, Choco, Exotic Rainforest rare tropical plants

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Philodendron species unknown
collected near Chocó, Colombia

sub adult form, Photo Copyright 2008, Steve Lucas, www.ExoticRainforest.com

Photo Copyright 2008, Steve Lucas, www.ExoticRainforest.com

This specimen was collected in the Chocó region of northern Colombia. I received this sub-adult Philodendron from a company in Ecuador known as Ecuagenera in 2006 with no name and no collection data other than it originated in the Chocó region of Colombia. The blades of our specimen have a velutinous (velvety) adaxial surface (topside) which is lighter green turning to dark green as it matures while the abaxial surface (underside) of a new leaf is a pale red in color with a velvet sheen. The blade is matte to semi-glossy. The leaf blades are thinly coriaceous and the largest blade on our specimen is currently 19cm (7.5 inches). Another grower who has the same specimen now has leaves twice the size of our plant. A coriaceous blade is one that is leathery to the touch so a thinly coriaceous, or sub-coriaceous leaf, would be less than leathery. The petioles which support each blade are terete (round) and the longest petiole is currently 21.5cm (8.5 inches).

The veins on the leaf, which are clearly seen from the markings on the top of the blade are convex and even more apparent abaxial surface. The cataphylls which are simply a modified leaf that surrounds any newly emerging leaf are bright red (see photo right). The cataphyll is the singular most important identifying characteristic of an aroid. However, based on Dr. Croat's scientific material the cataphylls of adult specimens do not continue to exhibit the red but instead are green. Photo Copyright 2008, Steve Lucas, www.ExoticRainforest.com

The internodes on the stem are short.

All Philodendron species are aroids. An aroid is a plant that reproduces by producing an inflorescence known to science as a spathe and spadix. Many people think the spathe is a "flower". It is not. The spathe is nothing more than a specially modified leaf. Within the inflorescence there are very tiny flowers found on the spadix at the center of the inflorescence. The inflorescence, which is sometimes shaped like a tube and often known as a "flower" is the spathe and inside that is the spadix. When ready to reproduce, the spadix produces both male, female and sterile flowers which if pollinated will produce the berries containing seeds. I have yet to see an inflorescence. To our knowledge, the species is not available for sale as yet.

Philodendron species are known to be highly variable and not every leaf of every specimen will always appear the same. Natural variation and morphogenesis are extremely common within aroid species. This link will explain in non-technical language both variation and morphogenesis known to science as ontogeny: Click here.

Want to learn more about aroids?
Join the International Aroid Society: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html

Aroid Pollination!
As it occurs in nature and by any horticulturist

If you are seeking information on other rare species, click on "Aroids and other genera in the Collection" at the top and look for the