Species in the Collection
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Plants in
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In depth information on how to grow Philodendron species, Click this Link
Within our collection we have over 70 species of Philodendron. If you are seeking other photos, click this link:
Philodendron
brandtianum
K. Krause
often confused with and sold as
Philodendron variifolium
Schott
Often thought to be
Philodendron variifolium Schott
Philodendron species,
and especially hybrid forms, 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.
The species in my photograph (left) has long been thought to be Philodendron variifolium. Through an exchange of email with Dr. Tom Croat of the Missouri Botanical Garden I learned in Mid March, 2007 this species has actually been found to be the juvenile form of Philodendron brandtianum. This is part of the exchange of mail with Dr. Croat: "I think that what most people are calling Philodendron variifolium Schott is really P. brandtianum K. Krause, an appressed-climbing hemiepiphyte which when juvenile has blades that are variously variegated with gray. Somehow Graf got a picture of this in Exotica 3 and labeled it P. variifolium. The type of P. variifolium is a more or less 3-lobed species which was collected at the same sight as P. deflexum and indeed was one of three competing plants all with the same number competing for the name P. deflexum Poeppig. It is actually possible, I believe that the real P. variifolium is really P. deltoideum. Marcela Mora and I have a paper on this subject in press." In a subsequent email sent to Denis Rotolante of Silver Krome Gardens in Miami, FL Dr. Croat continued regarding Philodendron variifolium, "The adult plants are rather large and have no variegation at all. I suspect that in pots or even on a totem it would never turns into the adult form, in the same way that P. hederaceum has remained juvenile in cultivation for centuries owing to the lack of ideal conditions for becoming adult. It must climb about 10 meters or so, climb out onto branches, then becomes pendent for 3 or more meters then it flowers."
Dr. Croat also forwarded this information in another email after reviewing my photo which will help correct the
confusion caused as a result of Graf's error in Exotica 3,
"I
would say that this is P. brandtianum.
It ranges from Central Brazil to lowland Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
The variegation disappears in the adult plants."
Almost no published information is available on Philodendron brandtianum via the internet other than through both TROPICOS and the International Plant Name Index stating it is a published species. What information is available regarding P. brandtianum indicates the plant is a native of Peru. Personal communication with Ron Weeks indicates the plant has also been found in NE Ecuador nearly into Columbia.
We have found Philodendron brandtianum to be a relatively slow appressed climber which loves to grab a totem. In the wild, it obviously needs a tree to climb in order to develop its beautiful large leaves. He photo right and two above are from the garden of Enid and Sam Offolter at Natural Selections Exotics in Fort Lauderdale. At present our specimen has 10cm (4 inch) leaves but Ron reports the plant's leaves were seen at 45cm (18") long in mature plants and retain their silver coloration. Enid's photograph would certainly verify that size estimate.
The species in my photo was judged Most Unusual Aroid at the 2005 Aroid Show at Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami, FL. It won that award using the name Philodendron variifolium. So far I've been unable to find a copy of the technical scientific description. Personal experience has shown the species requires a period of dryness during the fall and winter. If you over water the plant during the period it expects to be drier the plant will often shed leaves. If you have technical information regarding this species please pass it along to Steve@ExoticRainforest.com
Looking for a specimen? Contact
Natural Selections Exotics at
www.NSExotics.com
If you are seeking information on other rare
species, click on "Species in the Collection" at the top and look for
the
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