Philodendron morii Croat, sp. nov.
TYPE: Panama. Panamá: Valle de Madroño, ca. 10 mi. N of La Margarita (near Chepo), in forest S of and on Continental Divide, near border of Comarca de San Blas, along trial to Cangandí, 350--450 m, 9E19'N, 79E08'W, 21 Feb. 1986, Hammel & McPherson 14530 (holotype, MO--3398570). Figures 291--292.
Planta epiphytica; internodia 1--1.5 cm longa, 1.5--2 cm diam.; cataphylla 13 cm longa, obtuse 2-costata, decidua; petiolus subteres, 23--37 cm longus, (2)4--6 mm diam., subspongiosus; lamina ovato-triangularis, leniter cordata basi, 25--27.5 cm longa, 11.5--16 cm lata, in sicco canaviridis; inflorescentia 2; pedunculus 9.5--14 cm longus, 3--6 mm diam.; spatha 8.7--12 cm longa, viridis vel flaviviridis omnino; pistilla (3)4--5(6)-locularia; loculi cum 3--6 seminibus; baccae albae.
Epiphytic; stem appressed-climbing; internodes semiglossy, 1--1.5 cm long, 1.5--2 cm diam., about as long as broad, dark green, drying light brown; roots drying reddish brown; cataphylls 13 cm long, bluntly 2-ribbed, green, deciduous, intact; petioles 23--37 cm long, (2)4--6 mm diam., subterete, somewhat spongy, dark green, obscurely flattened adaxially, surface unmarked, often dries with loose, puffy epidermis; blades ovate-triangular, narrowly acuminate at apex, weakly cordate at base, 25--27.5 cm long, 11.5--16 cm wide (1.7--2.4 times longer than wide), (0.7--1.2 times longer than petiole), about equal in length to petiole, upper surface semiglossy, lower surface drying green, weakly glossy, moderately paler; anterior lobe 24--28 cm long, 12.6--16 cm wide; posterior lobes broadly rounded, 5--7 mm long, 3--7.5 cm wide, broadly rounded to obtuse; sinus arcuate with blade decurrent on petiole; midrib prominently raised above, slightly paler than surface below; basal veins 2--3 per side, with 0--1 free to base, 0--1 coalesced less than 1 cm; posterior rib weak, to 1.3 cm long, naked throughout its length; primary lateral veins (2)5--8 per side, departing midrib at a 40--50E angle, straight to the margins, sunken and concolorous above, convex and darker than surface below; minor veins fine, numerous, and distinct below, arising from both the midrib and primary lateral veins. INFLORESCENCES (post-anthesis) 2 per axil; peduncle 9.5--14 cm long, 3--6 mm diam.; spathe 8.7--12 cm long, (0.8--1.1 times longer than peduncle), green to yellowish green throughout; spathe tube 3.5--5 cm long; spadix 8--11 cm long; pistillate portion (post anthesis) 5.7 cm long in front, 4.8 cm long in back, 1.5 cm diam. midway, 1.2 cm diam. near apex, 8 mm diam. near base; fertile staminate portion 5 cm long, narrowly tapered to apex, the narrowest portion to 5 mm diam., ca. 1.3 cm above base; sterile staminate portion broader than constricted area, to 5.5 mm diam.; pistils 1.4--1.6 mm long; ovary (3)4--5(6)-locular, with sub-basal placentation; locules 1.3 mm long, 0.5 mm diam.; ovules 1 per locule, 0.3 mm long; funicle 0.2--0.3 mm long, (can be pulled free to base), style similar to style type D; style apex flat to weakly rounded, 0.6--0.7 mm long, style boss small; stigma covering entire style apex and inserted on style boss; the androecium truncate, margins irregularly 4--6-sided, 0.7 mm long. INFRUCTESCENCE with pistillate spadix 3--5 cm long; berries white, more or less oblong-ellipsoid, 1.1--2 mm long, 0.4--0.8 mm diam.; seeds 3--6 per locule, tan.
Flowering phenology in Philodendron morii is poorly known, but it is perhaps bimodal with flowering collections known in March and November and immature fruits in December, February, and June.
Philodendron morii is endemic to Panama, known only from highlands east of the Canal Area in Panamá Province and Comarca de San Blas and from Cerro Pirre in Darién Province, at 450 to 850 m elevation in Tropical wet forest and Premontane rain forest life zones.
Philodendron morii is a member of P. sect. Calostigma subsect. Glossophyllum ser. Glossophyllum. This species is characterized by its slender internodes (about as long as broad), bluntly two-ribbed, deciduous cataphylls, terete petioles (about as long as the blades) which often dry with loose, puffy epidermis, ovate-triangular, scarcely cordate, green-drying blades, and peduncles equaling or exceeding the green spathes.
Philodendron morii is most similar to P. sphalerum Schott from the Guianas, which has similar green-drying, long-petiolate leaves. The latter species differs in having the leaf blades acute to rounded or truncate at the base and proportionately longer petioles (fully as long as or much longer than the blades). In addition, P. sphalerum has up to four much smaller inflorescences with spathes 5.5--7 cm long, whereas P. morii has one to two much larger inflorescences per axil (spathes 9--12.5 cm long). Philodendron morii is also similar to P. wilburii, especially in terms of size and color of its leaf blades. The latter species differs, however, in comprising more or less scandent plants with usually long internodes.
Philodendron morii is not easily confused with any other Central American species. It is named in honor of one of its earliest collectors, Scott Mori (NY), who collected for the Missouri Botanical Garden during 1974-1975.
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Additional specimens examined.
PANAMA. Darién: Parque Nacional Darién, W side of Cerro Pirre, 800--1050 m, 7E56'N, 77E45'W, Croat 68700B (MO). Panamá: Cerro Jefe region, Altos de Azul--Río Chagres, 700--850 m, 9E15'N, 79E30'W, McPherson 11899 (MO, PMA, US); 3--3.5 mi. NE of Altos de Pacora, 11.1--11.6 mi. beyond Lago Cerro Azul, 700--750 m, 9E15'N, 79E25'W, Croat 68693 (CM, MO); Campos Tres, 3 mi. NE of Altos de Pacora, 500--800 m, Liesner 567 (MO); Gorgas Memorial Labs "Campamento Quatro", 5--10 km NE of Altos de Pacora, ca. 600 m, Mori & Kallunki 3441 (MO). San Blas: Río Diablo, Cordillera de Ibedón, 350--480 m, 9E21'N, 78E34'W, Herrera et al. 1489 (MO, PMA, US).