Re: [aroid-l] juvenile vs. adult

From: "Plantsman" plantsman at prodigy.net> on 2002.11.25 at 16:48:08(9641) Seems like I remember the common heart-leafed philodendron vine is/was named Philodendron oxycardium. I've seen older Aloe vera that were almost unrecognizable from the juvenile form: the color was much deeper and the wide leaf margins were quite "spikey". +More I've seen the common Epipremnum aureus changing from the juvenile leaf shape and size even in three foot tall specimens found at our area Home Depot. They were already getting quite rectangular with some perforations of the leaves and were quite happily covering the tree fern poles. We've got a E. aureus in my office that's been here over twelve years and due to the low light and low humidity, it's never left the juvenile stage. It's over ten feet long, still with small heart-shaped leaves, mostly green. I suspect heat, light and humidity would kick it off into mature form. David Sizemore Kingsport, TN (Zone 6A) ----- Original Message ----- To: Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 12:11 AM Subject: [aroid-l] juvenile vs. adult : Thanks, everybody, for explaining about Epipremnum aureus (what I was : calling common pothos). Now about this "adult form" versus "juvenile form" : thing... I've also heard about this change in looks for common green vining : philodendrum (whatever THAT is really called). : : And I think I've actually seen something like this sort of change in a very : unrelated houseplant, the thing sold as "aloe vera," so maybe this is not an : uncommon process across the vegetative world? Of course "aloe vera" doesn't : climb, but the change in appearance is very striking. : : Let me review the process for aroids as I understand it, what we see growing : in the florist's little pot is a juvenile form that looks very little like : the adult. I sense from cryptic discussions I've read elsewhere that the : switch to an adult form requires at least a tall moist standard for the vine : to cling to and climb, plus copious amounts of sunlight. : : Please correct me on the above. Then, my questions (sorry they're so basic : but I would guess there may be someone else on this list who doesn't know : this stuff), for anybody to answer: : : 1) Does this happen only to vining aroids? : 2) Besides lots of light, does this also require lots of heat and numidity? : 3) So can this be done indoors under home conditions without a greenhouse? : Can this be done in a greenhouse? Is this strictly for outdoors in tropical : climates? : 4) What actually are the basic trigger and mechanism of this change? : 5) What is the advantage of this change in evolutionary terms? : 6) Is there a particular book that everybody else learned all this from : already? : : Thanks, and sorry if this seems like I'm quizzing you. I'm just kind of : stunned at the revelation that feral pothos can grow that big.

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