Species in the Collection
Rainforest Tour
Orchids
The
Exotic Rainforest
Plants in
the Exotic Rainforest Collection
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Detailed information on Growing Anthurium Species
Click this Link
Important Notice:
We do not sell Anthurium or seeds.
The Exotic Rainforest is a private botanical garden.
Within our collection we have over 35 species of Anthurium. If you are seeking other photos, click this link:
Anthurium polyschistum
R.E. Schult. & Idrobo
AAnthurium
polyschistum
R.E. Schult. & Idrobo
An anthurium that grows like a vine!
An anthurium that grows like a vine!
Janice and I had the opportunity to spend some time with Dr. Tom Croat at the
Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis during October, 2006. In addition to the enormous Climatron which is quite literally a rain forest under glass, the garden
maintains several research greenhouses where rare and exotic plants are studied.
These are not open to the public, however we were given a tour
by Dr. Croat. While I was busily snapping photos of
anything that interested me (everything) Janice was looking
at a very unusual Anthurium that grows like a vine, Anthurium
polyschistum. This strange little Anthurium sp. is often
terrestrial and runs across the jungle
floor like any other rain forest vine until it grabs hold of any tree in order to
climb.
A hemiepiphyte, the semi-rare
Anthurium grows from the ground up the sides
of trees or it's seeds may be deposited by a bird on the tree and grow
down toward the ground where it then deposits roots. The very unusual A. polychistum normally has
5 to 9 lobes on each leaf
blade. The blue/gray blades are thin and only slightly
glossy. They actually appear to be more like a
palm than an Anthurium due to what is known botanically as "palmatisect"
leaves. These lobes are cut to the base of the leaf and appear very
much as leaflets. As a result of the growth form the Anthurium belongs
to section Dactylophyllium.
Anthurium species are
known to be highly variable and not every leaf of every specimen will
always appear the same. This link explains in greater detail the
scientific principals of natural variation and morphogenesis.
Click here.
Thus delicate Anthurium is
found in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia. In Colombia it can be found in the
Amazon River watershed along the Loretoyacu River at an elevation
above sea level of 100 meters (approximately 300 feet). Dr. Croat
advised in a recent personal email Anthurium polychistum "is restricted to lowland
Amazonia". He also noted the plant is not completely
botanically described. The palmately divided leaves are quite
thin and the plant wilts quickly when the vine is cut. However, if kept
in a very humid environment Anthurium polychistum will begin to
root relatively quickly from the numerous root systems found along the
vine. The vine forming Anthurium produces an florescence
(flower) spathe that is green and
quite narrow with a green spadix. We still have a great deal to learn about this unusual
Anthurium but it appears to be adapting well to our "rainforest"
environment. This plant is probably best suited for a terrarium or vivarium due to the need for high humidity.
We have the specimen in filtered light in soil that is very fast
draining mixed with orchid potting media and Perlite™. Botanical notes state the plant is found in shady areas
of the rain forest. Although not common, this species may
sometimes be available to collectors. Our specimen was
a gift from Dr. Croat and his assistant Emily Colletti.
If
you love rare plants, would like to experience a rain forest without
traveling to South America, and have never been to the Missouri Botanical
Garden make a plan to visit. Plan a full day. I've been fortunate
enough to spend time in several South American rain forests and this is
absolutely the next best thing. A link to the MOBOT website can be
found on our "Links" page which can be found at the bottom of the
homepage of this website. Take a camera!
Join the
International Aroid Society:
http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html
If you are seeking information on other rare
species, click on "Species in the Collection" at the top and look for
the
