Species in Collection
Rainforest Tour
Orchids
The
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 linnaei
Kunth
Philodendron linnaei
Kunth
Synonyms:
Philodendron decurrens K. Krause
Philodendron nobile W. Bull
Philodendron notabile hort. ex W. Bull
Confused with
Philodendron
insigne
Click here to see P. insigne
Philodendron linnaei
grows in the rain forests of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador,
French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Peru.
When I found this
aroid on eBay in the summer of 2005 the seller was offering the
plant as "Philodendron longiloba". No such name exists on any major
botanical database. I find it regrettable when sellers appear to
make up a name that sounds scientific if they can't locate the
correct botanical name of the specimen they wish to sell. Bad
aroid names commonly circulate via the internet as a result.
Any botanical name can easily be verified on one of two scientific
sites:
TROPICOS
http://www.tropicos.org/
or the International Plant Names Index
http://www.ipni.org/index.html
Most aroid
species can also be verified on the International Aroid Society
website
http://www.aroid.org/
Aroid botanist Dr. Thomas
B. Croat Ph.D., P.A. Schulze Curator of Botany at the Missouri
Botanical Garden in St. Louis, MO described Philodendron linnaei
in volume 9 of Aroideana, the official journal of the International
Aroid Society in 1986. In his article Dr. Croat indicates
"Philodendron linnaei is widespread in the northern Amazon Basin
(albeit poorly collected), ranging from Venezuela to the Guianas (at
least Suriname & French Guiana), Brazil (Para, Bahia, Amazonas
states) and Peru"
In Peru, Philodendron linnaei has been observed in the
vicinity of Iquitos and is normally found at elevations of less than
200 meters (665 feet). The species has also been collected at
elevations up to 800 meters (2,625 feet) near the border with
Brazil. In Venezuela, Philodendron linnaei has been
collected from Monagas and Delta Amacuro to the state of Amazonas in
Brazil. Dr. Croat continues in his description,
"It is most
easily confused with Philodendron insigne which has a similar habit,
short petioles and similar long-pedunculate inflorescences with
reddish spathe tubes."
The petioles are
the part of the plant that support each leaf blade while the
peduncles support the inflorescence.
Another text indicates small monkeys at Nouragues in French Guiana
have not been observed eating the "fruit" of the inflorescence with
no explanation as to why offered. Monkeys, birds and
other rain forest animals often eat the
berries which contain
the seeds of aroid species and distribute those seeds onto the
branches of trees in their droppings. This process is
how epiphytic plants find their way into the canopy of the rain
forest. An epiphyte is a
plant that grows upon
another plant. Since Philodendron linnaei is an
epiphyte, the species grows on the trunks and
limbs
of trees (see Joep Moonen's photo at the top of this page), and as a
result, specimens do not normally have their roots in soil.
The inside of the spathe, the color is a spectacular deep red, and
the spathe may grow in an unusual fashion: pendent (downward)!
As an aroid species, Philodendron linnaei reproduces via the
infloresence which contains both a spathe and a spadix. The
spathe is frequently called a "flower" by collectors but is simply a
modified leaf used to protect the spadix at its center. The
true flowers can be observed on the spadix and contain both male and
female flowers. To better understand how an aroid reproduces
please read this article:
Natural pollination in aroids
Dr. Croat describes Philodendron linnaei as having rosulate
leaf blades, similar in arrangement to the petals of a rose. The
petioles which support each leaf are short when compared to the
length of the leaf. The epiphytic plant grows in light shade. Dutch
naturalist Joep Moonen (pronounced yupe or jupe) wrote in an email,
"Philodendron linnaei is not endemic to French Guiana. They occur in
Venezuela, the three Guianas and Amapā, north Brazil (Amazonia &
surrounding states). I found them as far south as in the State of
Bahia." The
term "endemic" is used to describe species that are exclusively
found in a narrow range. The species can also be recognized by
a long inflorescence which is red-maroon to purple on the outside of
the spathe tube and red on the inside. The undersides of the leaf
blades are tinged in red.
Our
specimen of Philodendron linnaei has proven to be a slow
grower. We recently observed the specimen growing runners (known as
stolons) with smaller plants at their ends. The plant will
eventually produce small rosettes which form into new foliage. Philodendron
linnaei is considered a birds nest form, or "trash basket"
plant, since the leaves collect falling debris to use as a means of
storing moisture.
A rain forest species, Philodendron linnaei requires
regular and abundant moisture but should not be allowed to become
water logged. We have repotted our specimen in a mixture of
50% orchid potting media, 20% peat, 15% good soil, with a balance of
Perlite. The species should do well in a hanging orchid basket with
the roots packed in high quality sphagnum moss.
Philodendron linnaei is likely to prosper if not kept in wet
soil but instead in a well drained soil mixture or very fast
draining orchid basket.
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 natural
variation and morphogenesis, also known in science as ontogeny.
At least two natural variations of the species Philodendron
linnaei are known to science. Morphing is very commonly
seen in Philodendron species.
Click here.
The photos of wild Philodendron linnaei specimens on this
page are from the collection of Joep Moonen in French Guiana. If you
would enjoy spending time in a rain forest filled with exotic
creatures and extremely rare plant species while being introduced to
that jungle by an expert guide who speaks many languages, Joep
escorts visitors almost daily into the rain forest of northeast
South America. He and his family own an eco-tour village in French
Guiana known as the Emerald Jungle Village. His website can be found
at:
http://home.planet.nl/~gumamaus/
For eco-tour information and an Emerald Jungle Village brochure
contact Joep at EmeraldJungleVillage@wandoo.fr
Join the International Aroid Society: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html
