From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2000.10.08 at 20:11:11(5534)
Dear Aroid Friends (and thanks, Denis!),
The explaniation that Denis gives below about the source of the 'true' form
of this plant being obtained in Brazil by the guide who made them wait in
the car is the one I have heard. I wish that others would add to the
story of this remarkable and now legendery plant, as there seems to be more
than one 'clone' out there of this WONDERFUL plant, I have heard of another
clone in I believe California that came from a different trip/source in
Brazil, so there is more to this story!
The plant that the late Dr. Monroe Birdsey grew MAY be the source of and the
reason for all the other faster-growing plants of ANOTHER var. or species of
Philodendron which superfically resembles the REAL one in several features,
but literally grows like a weed, and has LONG internodes. A friend of mine
here in WPB can not GIVE this one away fast enough, and has to use it in his
mulch pile!
Save your pennies for next years auction, friends!
Sincerely,
Julius
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>Dear Scott and Other Aroiders:
The piece you got at the auction came from the collection of Betty
Waterbury who left the IAS two pieces of this lovely Philodendron and
some other assorted rare Aroids in her will to support the Society which
she and several others founded in the 1970's. It was collected in Brazil
by the Guide who was showing her the various collecting areas in the
countryside. He did not share the exact location of the collection site
with her and made her wait in the car. (this is the story I was told,
correct me if I'm Wrong, please.) The plants were entrusted to me to
grow for the Society. It does not grow very fast in my nursery and has
never flowered...perhaps it's getting too much shade. What light level
are you growing in. We were set to sell another piece of the P.
spiritus sancti at the Auction this year. However, an off shore
customer($) came into my nursery and offered me $500 for the Scrawny
basal piece which I had topped in the Spring. Since the last Auction
price received was only $350 and after conferring with Tricia Frank, IAS
Treasurer we decided that the $500 was a fair price and more than we
were likely to get from the Auction. There should be another piece for
next year. Scott, if you could get your piece of the plant to set seed
that would be great. But if it were that easy there would already be
millions of them out there. Monroe Birdsey alway said that the
Philodendron that was growing in his trees was the same species as this
Spiritus Sancti thing but nobody was ever willing to pay $350 to $500
for his plant when he gave the cuttings away for free. I regret now
selling that piece for $500, for many people said to me at the show they
would have liked to have bid on it. But like I said there will be
another piece for next year. So far, to the best of my recollection this
Plant, (thanks to the generosity of our Auction bidders) has raised
about $1500 for the IAS publication fund.(Tricia correct me if this is
not a high enough number.) Sorry to be so wordy.
Denis Rotolante
President IAS 2000
Silver Krome Gardens, Inc.
In Slightly soggy Homestead Florida
Scott Lucas wrote:
>
> Aloha Jay,
>
> I took a look at the photograph of Philodendron 'Santa Leopoldina' in
> Exotica and can observe that this is not the same plant that I have, which
I
> think may be the "true" Philodenddron spiritus-sancti. The leaves on my
> plant are much narrower, the upper lobes of the leaf much sharper and, now
> that appears to finally be setting into a more or less mature growth
> pattern, the leaves are measuring a consistent four feet in length. Mine
> came from the IAS Auction in Miami in 1997 and, while it has grown
> consistently, the stem is only about six inches long yet. There is really
> no internode between petioles at all. It is a truly handsome plant with
> deep green upper surfaces to the leaves and undersides red/purple. It
> flowered for the first time this year, producing 5 inflorescences... but
no
> fruit. When it does (if it does) fruit, I will be anxious to pass seed
out
> to all takers!
>
> Scott A. Lucas
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jay Vannini"
> To: "Multiple recipients of list AROID-L"
> Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 10:06 AM
> Subject: Philodendron spiritus-sancti
>
> > Howdy, all!
> >
> > Eduardo Goncalve's message on his visit to the Burle-Marx collection
(the
> > lucky devil!) jogged my somewhat uncertain memory about Philodendron
> > spiritus-sancti a.k.a. P. "Santa Leopoldina" #1. I have a plant that is
> > supposed to be this species - it does show most of the characteristics
> > described in the paper published on it, EXCEPT the petiole shape, which
in
> > mine is markedly flattened on the upper surface, or hemispheric in
> > cross-section. The stem and petioles of this plant also flush scarlet at
> > times (in response to who knows what), and the leaves keep changing
size,
> > although not shape. Although grown from a very small stem cutting,
leaves
> > are now reaching over 20" in length - the distance between internodes is
> > extremely short (<1"), making the plant look almost like a self-header.
> > Oddly, for a Philodendron, it seems happiest at cooler temperatures.
> >
> > What I am curious about is whether the plants illustrated in Exotica and
> > Tropica and labelled P. Santa Leopoldina are, in fact, P.
spiritus-sancti.
> > My plant is almost a dead ringer for both of these two, so if it's in
fact
> > something else that's for sale at the neighborhood Home Depot for 4.99 -
> > PLEASE BE GENTLE.
> >
> > Cheerio,
> >
> > Jay
> >
> >
> >
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