Re: [aroid-l] juvenile vs. adult

From: "Harry Witmore" harrywitmore at witmore.net> on 2002.11.25 at 17:18:02(9642) This is really common among aroids. I have a Philodendron scandens that is climbing the side of my greenhouse and the leaves are beginning to get progressively larger. The leaves now are about 8 inches across. It's also happening to a Syngonium in the same greenhouse. But' I also have a Monstera deliciosa that is running across the ground in my greenhouse and the leaf is about 2 feet across. It was an escapee from a pot. The parent pot leaves are about 1 foot across. It's also happening to ivy in my front yard. When it reaches the tops of the trees, the leaves are considerably larger in size than it is on the ground. I can happen in a relatively small space but I think the key is how high it can get and how much light. Harry Witmore +More Cloud Jungle Art www.witmore.net -----Original Message----- [mailto:aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu]On Behalf Of Alektra@aol.com Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 12:11 AM To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu 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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