Species in Collection
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Exotic Rainforest
Plants in
the Exotic Rainforest Collection
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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 elegans K. Krause
Philodendron elegans K. Krause
Incorrectly Philodendron angustisectum
Incorrectly Philodendron angustisectum
Sometimes called the
Skeleton Aroid
A multi-lobed philodendron from Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, Philodendron elegans was officially described to science in 1913 and is a member of section Polytomium. P. elegans is a most unusual epiphytic species (a plant that grows on another plant) due to the shape of the leaf. The blade grows to approximately 53cm (21 inches) in length. Although very young blades are shaped quite differently from the adult form (see blades lower right and lower left), half grown leaves are almost identical to the adult. The lobed leaf is pinnatified (cut to the mid rib) similar in structure to a palm frond. As a result, P. elegans is sometimes called the Skeleton Aroid. The lamina of the blade is dull rather than glossy. The maxium blade size of th3 specimen above is34cm (13.25 inches).
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.
Several sites, especially horticultural websites, indicate that Philodendron elegans is actually Philodendron angustisectum. That information appears not to be verifiable by either TROPICOS (a service of the Missouri Botanical Garden) or in the journals of aroid botanist Dr. Tom Croat. In Dr. Croat's Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 1997, Volume 84 Number 3, he indicates they are separate species. Several other similarly shaped species are sometimes misidentified as Philodendron elegans. The majority of those that are misidentified have much finer lobes than P. elegans.
Several sites, especially horticultural websites, indicate that Philodendron elegans is actually Philodendron angustisectum. That information appears not to be verifiable by either TROPICOS (a service of the Missouri Botanical Garden) or in the journals of aroid botanist Dr. Tom Croat. In Dr. Croat's Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 1997, Volume 84 Number 3, he indicates they are separate species. Several other similarly shaped species are sometimes misidentified as Philodendron elegans. The majority of those that are misidentified have much finer lobes than P. elegans.
Since Philodendron elegans best
displays its attributes when allowed to climb you will wish to give
this species as tall a totem as possible. We grow the species in
very fast draining soil with extra peat, Perlite™, and orchid bark
added. Keep the soil damp but not soggy.
Want to learn more
about aroids?
Join the International Aroid Society: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html
Join the International Aroid Society: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html