Anthurium effusilobum Croat, sp. nov.
Etymology:
Distribution: Ecuador and Peru
Sectional Placement: section Belolonchium The type plant is from Pastaza, Ecuador.
Description: Anth. effusilobum is usually found growing as a terrestrial, but may also grow as an epiphyte. Stems with close internodes, short and errect; Leaves, petioles erect and spreading, leaf blade with lateral lobes of 12-24 cm long and 6-14 cm wide and the median lobe 20-38 cm long and 6-14 cm wide. This leaf blade is deeply 3-lobed and varies in shape considerably from clone to clone; Inflorescence, peduncle erect, spathe erect and acuminate at the apex and spreading over the spadix like a hood, spadix, pendant, pointing almost straight down, dark purple or cream to very light green. Berries, dark purple and very spherical ( observed only on var. effusilobum).
Notes: This species is divided into two varieties, A. effusilobum var. effusilobum is characterised by its dark purple spadix and being found in the vicinity of Tena in Pastaza, Ecuador.
A. effusilobum var. pallidispadix is characterised by a pale green to cream colored spadix and is disjunct from the population of A. effusilobum var. effusilobum to the north.
The berries of this species ripen in a very short time period, less than 3 months from pollination to ripe berry in cultivation. This observation coupled with the hooded spathe and pendant spadix seem to be adaptations for protection from very high rainfall.
This photo shows a clone of var. effusilobum with an unusually wide sinus, nontheless, this plants inflorescence and terrestrial habit are unmistakeable. The lobes and sinus of this species varies alot even for an Anthurium !
This species seems to grow easily in cultivation.
Copyright © 2007 by Neil Carroll. All rights reserved.
