International Aroid Society

21. Syngonium harlingianum Croat, sp. nov. TYPE: Ecuador, Pastaza, Mera, Pantanos, 1100 m, Harling 11064 (GB, holotype).

Planta terristris, caudex ca. 1 cm diam.; lamina simplex trilobata, lobi conjuncti, lobus medius 7.5-10.5 cm longus, 2.7-6 cm latus, lobi laterales inaequilaterae conspicuae auriculatae. Inflorescentia solitaria, 9.5 cm longa, spatha 11.5 cm longa, tubo 4.5 cm longo, ca. 2 cm lato, viridi, lamina luteola, aeuminata; spadix 8.5 cm longa, parte feminea spadicis ca. 2 cm longa.

Terrestrial. Adult plants with stems ca. 1 cm diam.; internodes 1-2 cm long near the apex; petioles 12-14 cm long, sheathed ca. 2/3 their length, the free portion subterete, ca. 2 mm diam., the sheath merging almost imperceptibly with the petiole at its apex; blades 3-lobed, drying yellowish green, the median lobe oblong-elliptic, acuminate to obtuse at the apex, narrowed at the base and confluent with the lateral lobes, 7.5-10.5 cm long, 2.7-6 cm wide, the lateral lobes markedly inequilateral (the inner part Vi or less as wide as the outer part), more or less elliptic, obtuse to acute at the apex, 5.5-8 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, rounded or more commonly auriculate on the outer edge at base, the midrib naked for 5-10 mm, the auricles to 2.5 cm long, rounded or oblong, not at all constricted at the base, the surfaces drying matte, yellowish green, slightly paler beneath; midrib drying flat on upper surface, weakly raised beneath with obscure scabrid lines;
primary lateral veins 2-4 pairs; tertiary and quaternary veins distinctly visible;
primary collective vein arising from the first or second primary lateral vein, 2-4 mm from the margin.
Inflorescences solitary; peduncle 9.5 cm long, ca. 3 mm diam. (dried); spathe 11.5 cm long; spathe tube green, narrowly ellipsoid, 4.5 cm long, ca. 2 cm diam.; spathe blade narrowly elliptic, membranous, yellowish, acuminate at the apex; spadix 8.5 cm long; pistillate portion of the spadix ca. 2 cm long, ca. 5 mm diam., the flowers contiguous, ca. 1 mm diam.; sterile stam-inate flowers irregularly elongated in the direction of the axis, 3-3.5 mm long in direction of the axis, 1-1.6 mm wide perpendicular to axis; staminate portion of the spadix cylindroid, narrowly tapered toward the apex, drying ca. 1 cm diam., the flowers mostly rhombic, the apex truncate, matte, the margin crenate, not at all incised between the anthers.
Infructescences not seen. Fig. 44.

DISTRIBUTION: Syngonium harlingianum is known only from the type collection and is named in honor of its collector, Dr. Gunnar Harling, one of the coauthors of the Flora of Ecuador.
The species is not closely related to any other species nor is it confused with any other species. It is characterized by its small, 3-lobed leaves with confluent leaflets. It was described by its collector as being terrestrial, an unusual condition in the genus. While it is not unusual to find juvenile and pre-adult leaves on the ground, I have never found adult plants in other than an epiphytic or hemiepi-phytic situation.
The type collection was in flower in late February.

ECUADOR: PASTAZA: Mera, Harling 11064 (GB).