Philodendron 'Xanadu' leaf mutations

From: Zach DuFran <zdufran at wdtinc.com> on 2009.02.09 at 22:41:29(19066) I have been growing a Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ forabout 6 months. A couple of weeks ago I noticed two odd features (mutations?)that I had never seen before. The first is that two stems have “fused”together – all the way from the base of the stem to the leaf, includingthe first lobe of the leaf on one side. The other possible mutation is a small extra leaf(?) risingfrom the midrib near the base of one leaf. It reminds me of the smallleaf that grows in the middle of the cladode of Ruscus hypoglossum. (Seethis blog post with pictures: http://itinerantgardener.blogspot.com/2009/01/tricksters.html) You can see my pictures of both mutations here: http://myfolia.com/journals/39643-weird-leaf-mutations The thumbnail images are links to the full size images onFlickr. There is one image of the small, extra “leaf” and fourimages of the fused leaves. Has anyone encountered these 2 growth habits before? Arethey normal or do I have a special plant? J Thanks- Zach DuFran HTML +More --_000_765CBD9053EA2B438625895F30D1856F0190F7302Bstormwdtincco_----==============V18295433210097126=

From: <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2009.02.10 at 22:50:33(19080) Dear Zach, What you have observed are deformations, all commonly observed on this species of Philodendron.   You will also see ''double blooms'' on one peduncle, ''double spadices'' within a single deformed spathe, etc. In time (years!) the plant MAY ''grow out'' of these chemicals and become a nice looking plant. I believe these deformations are caused by the method that this plant is produced by the millions in tissue culture, or by chemicals the young plants are treated with to cause dwarfing and/or many plants growing and clumping together. See my articles on P. xanadu in both Aroideana # 25 (where it is described as a new species By Dr. Croat, Dr. Mayo and myself) and my follow-up article in Aroideana # 31 where I touch on the ''whys'' of what chemical treatments MAY be doing to this interesting species, and picture plants which over years have grown out of the chemicals. Good Growing, Julius Boos HTML +More WPB,  FLORIDA From: zdufran@wdtinc.com To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 16:41:29 -0600 Subject: [Aroid-l] Philodendron 'Xanadu' leaf mutations I have been growing a Philodendron �Xanadu� forabout 6 months.  A couple of weeks ago I noticed two odd features (mutations?)that I had never seen before. The first is that two stems have �fused�together � all the way from the base of the stem to the leaf, includingthe first lobe of the leaf on one side. The other possible mutation is a small extra leaf(?) risingfrom the midrib near the base of one leaf.  It reminds me of the smallleaf that grows in the middle of the cladode of Ruscus hypoglossum.  (Seethis blog post with pictures: http://itinerantgardener.blogspot.com/2009/01/tricksters.html)  You can see my pictures of both mutations here: http://myfolia.com/journals/39643-weird-leaf-mutations The thumbnail images are links to the full size images onFlickr.  There is one image of the small, extra �leaf� and fourimages of the fused leaves. Has anyone encountered these 2 growth habits before?  Arethey normal or do I have a special plant?  Thanks- Zach DuFran --_8041e26a-7575-479a-bd37-7193ef055c7d_----==============%92148057649282488=

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