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Within our collection we have many species of Anthurium.  If you are seeking other photos, click this link:

Anthurium forgetii N.E. Br.

Anthurium forgetii N.E. Br.

Described to science in 1906, Anthurium forgetii is found only in the South American countries of Colombia and Ecuador.   Anthurium forgetii is notable due to the lack of a sinus opening at the top of the leaf blade.  The majority of Anthurium species have an opening between the upper lobes known as the sinus.  The species Anthurium forgetii lacks either lobes or such an opening.  As a result, a word of caution regarding images found on sites such as Google Image Search, Yahoo and MSN.  Many photos claiming to illustrate Anthurium forgetii show plants that possess a sinus at the top of the blade.  According to scientific sources,  Anthurium forgetii has no sinus.  Try a photo search for yourself and see what photos are displayed.

 

The leaves of Anthurium forgetii are ovate (oval) and the blades are scientifically described as glaucus (shiny).  The blades possess a  velutinous  (velvet) appearance and are dark green with very prominent white venation (markings) marking the leave's veins.  The underside of the adult leaf is a lighter green than the upper surface and is semi-glossy.

 

The petioles (commonly called stems) which support each leaf blade are subterete (less than round) and are sometimes slightly flattened. 

 

Some collectors confuse Anthurium forgetii with Anthurium crystallinum.  Aroid expert Julius Boos explains the differences when he wrote regarding Anthurium forgetii, "It has a completely closed or absent sinus.  You say that A. crystallinum has a closed sinus divided all the way down to the petiole. This would mean the two posterior lobes touch each other.  But there is a slit all the way down from the top of the posterior lobes down to the petiole.  It would not be a sealed or absent sinus like as A. forgetii."   

 

All Anthurium species are aroids. An aroid is a plant that reproduces by producing an inflorescence known to science as a spathe and spadix.  Most people believe the spathe is a "flower" which is incorrect. The spathe is a modified leaf whose purpose is to protect the spadix at the center of the inflorescence.  On the spadix there can be found very tiny flowers when the plant is ready to be pollinated and is at female anthesis (sexual reproduction).  When ready to reproduce the spadix produces both male, female and sterile flowers.  If the female flowers are pollinated by an appropriate insect (normally a beetle) which carries pollen from another specimen at male anthesis, the spadix will begin to grow berries.  The berries produced on the spadix are dark purple and inside the berries can be found 1 to 2 seeds.

 

The inflorescence of Anthurium forgetii stands erect and the spathe is glossy on both sides and is green in color.  The spathe may also have purple along the edge.  The spadix is light green to yellow green in color but may turn reddish with age. 

 

Like all Anthurium species, Anthurium forgetii morphs as it grows.  The juvenile leaf blades often look little like the adult blades seen in our photographs.  A juvenile leaf can be seen in the photo at the right.  Morphogenesis within aroid species is explained in non-technical language in this link.  Click here.

Enid Offolter's photos are courtesy Natural Selections Exotics, www.NSExotics.com

 

Join the International Aroid Society:  http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html

 

Aroid Pollination!
As it occurs in nature and by any horticulturist

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