Subject: [Aroid-l] Philodendron x evansii/feral Aroids in the U.S.A.
To: "Discussion of aroids"
Date: Friday, July 4, 2008, 9:06 AM
________________________________
> Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 07:43:33 -0700
> From: kalim1998 at yahoo.com
> To: aroid-l at gizmoworks.com
> Subject: [Aroid-l] Origins of Philodendron x evansii
Dear Arlan,
Good to see you on aroid-l again!
I`m certain that Ron Weeks, Russ Hammer, ESPECIALLY John Banta, and Steve Lucas
may be able to add information about the history of this Meconostigma
Philodendron hybrid, and of Mr. Bill Evans, it`s creator. We have had several
discussions about this Philo. hybrid.
It is surmised that Mr. Evans may have used P. bipinnatifidium crossed to P.
speciosum as the parents of P. x evansii, but this is not known for certain, it
may have been P. mello-barettoanum instead of P. bipinnatifidium. We also do
not know which species was used as the seed parent, and which one as the pollen
parent. Also bear in mind that what is presently being called P. speciosum
just may eventually be determined to consist of several distinct species, as
the plants being called P. speciosum certainly present a broad range of sizes
and leaf blade shapes! (to me that is!) We do not know which one (if any) of
these were used by Mr. Evans.
What I can add is that no species of Philodendron has established itself as a
feral plant (escaped from cultivation) as a self sustaining species, as the
pollinators (small scrab beetles) are not present, so sexual reproduction in
the U.S.A. is not known to take place except by hand pollination. There are
a few plants of climbing Philodendron sps. I sometimes see on a tree, most
appear to have originated from trash thrown out and which somehow survive and
climb and multiply vegetativly, but I have never seen a sizable colony of any
Philodendron sp. anywhere, and certainly no Meconostigmas. The closest to
this is a report I received of a large group of a smaller Meconostigma hybrid
which might be a P. corcovadense X P. speciosum or P. paludicola cross. This
large group of plants, all from vegetative divisions, was reportedly covering
the base of a BIG Cypress tree in W. Florida. I have a plant from this
colony, and it likes to scramle and climb (like P. corcovadense),
and produces off-shoots quite readly. A friend also told me of a no-longer
existing ''hedge'' in the S. Miami area which consisted of a
smaller Meconostigma Philodendron which was seemingly close to this one.
Syngonium podophyllum (and possibly other species of Syngonium) have become
established as a reproducing feral and invasive pest aroid species in S.
Florida, the pollinators of this are PROBABLY fruit flies, and I have collected
viable fruit and seed in a lot of areas of S. Florida, and the juicy fruit and
large black seeds are probably distributed by native birds.
Colocasia sp. and Xanthosoma sp. can be seen as invasive, VERY abundant plants
in many areas of Florida, Colocasia more so than Xanthosoma. These colonies
are all from vegetative reproduction/spread. All probably originated from
discarded food leftovers consisting of peelings thrown out as trash, or plants
put out by homeowners. No sexual reproduction/seed production has not been
observed in these two genera, though blooms have been observed on both, which
might result in seed production at some point.
Large feral plants/colonies of Xanthosoma robustum (6'-8'+) might be
mistaked for P. x evansii??
The Best,
Julius
>> Hi all,
> I am reorganizing the meconostigma site so it has more articles (in
english similar to the leafcutter ant site i maintain, because my malay is not
deep enough to write very well in that language), and am hoping to put together
a post in the meconostigma site about the origins of P. x evansii.
>
> Here's pics of that plant:
> http://www.blueboard.com/pahatan/gambar/p_x_evansii_1.htm
>
> Here is what I know, please correct me if i am wrong...
>
> This hybrid is from P. speciosum and P. bipinnatifidum.
>
> It was "discovered" or "created" by Bill Evans, one of
the major historical figures in Disney history.
>
> I have heard rumors that this plant has become native in certain areas,
which i doubt, but you never know.
>
> If anyone has anything top add, please chirp in, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks...
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