Dr. Croat has determined Philodendron esmeraldense to be both a terrestrial and epiphytic species but the species has also been observed to be epilithic.  The term epiphytic indicates a species is capable of climbing a host tree and the scientific term epilithic simply means the species is capable of growing attached to stone.  The leaf blades of P. esmeraldense are narrowly ovate to sagittate (oval tending towards arrow shaped) and moderately coriaceous to sub-coriaceous.  To a botanist coriaceous indicates the feel of leather while sub-coriaceous would indicate the feel of very thin leather.  The leaf blades are dark green and possess a less than velutinous (velvet) sheen that is slightly matte on the adaxial (upper) surface.  The blades also possess a pale purplish violet tinge on the abaxial surface (underside).  A maximum blade size was not indicated in Dr. Croat's description at this time.  The midrib of the leaf is only slightly raised and very slightly rounded.   The cataphylls of P. esmeraldense remain intact after the blade is formed and are a dark reddish brown in color.  The cataphylls are the plant materials that grow around the base of any newly developing leaf and measure approximately 30cm (12 inches) in length.  Growing as a vine, the internodes of Philodendron esmeraldense are quite short.  The petioles measure 23.4 to 73.5cm long (9.2 to 29 inches) and are terete (cylindrical).   The petioles are the support for each leaf blade. 

All Philodendron species are aroids. An aroid is a plant that reproduces by producing an inflorescence known to science as a spathe and spadix. Most people believe the spathe is a "flower", it is not. The spathe is simply a specially modified leaf appearing to be a hood whose purpose is to protect the spadix at the center. The spadix is a spike on a thickened fleshy axis which can produce tiny flowers.  On the spadix there can be found very tiny flowers when the plant is at anthesis. When ready to reproduce, the spadix produces male, female and sterile flowers which if pollinated by an appropriate insect, normally a beetle, will produce berries containing seeds.

The inflorescence of Philodendron esmeraldense stands erect on a peduncle that measures 62.4 to 113.2cm long (24.5 to 44.5 inches).  The inflorescence of any aroid is composed of a spathe and spadix and is often considered a "flower" by collectors.  In truth, the spathe is not a flower but is instead a modified leaf blade which shields the spadix at the center of the inflorescence.  The true flowers are found on the spadix and are quite small.  Those flowers are both male and female and pollination is typically caused by a local insect, often a beetle, that carries pollen from the male flowers of one plant to the female flowers of another.  The spathes of P. esmeraldense measure 14.2 to 19.6cm (5.6 to 7.7 inches) in length, and are green at the base blending to white towards the apex but may be purplish with white margins.  The color is slightly paler on the inside.  The spathe may become darker and purple tinged in the lower one half to one third portion.  

Philodendron are known to be highly variable and not every leaf of every specimen will always appear the same.  In addition, the blades of Philodendron morph as they grow.  This link explains natural variation and morphogenesis within aroids and other species.  Click here.