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The Exotic Rainforest
Plants in the Exotic Rainforest Collection
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Detailed information on Growing Anthurium Species  Click this Link

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

Anthurium vittariifolium Engl.


 Anthurium vittariifolium Engl., Photo copyright Dr Tom Croat, Missouri Botanical Garden 
 

Anthurium vittariifolium  Engl.
 
Anthurium vittariifolium (vita-AR-E-EYE-fo-lee-um) is a strap leaf anthurium that can reach large proportions.  The tree dwelling epiphyte can develop 7 to 10cm wide (3 to 4 inch) wide leaves that reportedly grow to 2.4 meters (8 feet) long making it one super-sized plant when fully grown.   Anthurium vittariifolium appreciates filtered sunlight that is bright and  requires excellent drainage in a soil mixture that stays damp but not soggy.  
 
A. vittariifolium is properly considered a part of Anthurium section Urospadix .   Species in that section have short stems with short internodes and generally epunctate leaf blades which are typically much longer than broad leaf blades that are typically lanceolate (spear shaped).
 
Anthurium differ from Philodendron species since all Anthurium produce perfect flowers containing both male and female organs while Philodendron produce imperfect flowers containing only a single sex.   At sexual anthesis all Anthurium produce an inflorescence which contains both a spathe and a spadix.  The spadix is only a modified leaf and not a flower which surrounds the fleshy spike known as the spadix.  When an Anthurium is "in flower" the reference is to the tiny flowers containing both male and female sexual parts that grow on the spadix at the center of the inflorescence.  To help prevent self pollination nature has designed the female flowers to be receptive before the male portion of the flower produce their pollen so in most cases an insect must bring pollen from another plant.  If the female flowers are pollinated they will eventually produce berries which contain seeds.  For more information on the sexual reproduction of an aroid see the link below.
 
We prefer a combination of good potting soil, peat, orchid bark, Perlite, and crushed volcanic rock.  A rain forest plant, this species should be watered often and housed in humid conditions.  A. vittariifolium produces a small pinkish spathe and inflorescence that is attractive but unremarkable.  The berries are a bright violet/pink. (See inset photos).  According to TROPICOS (Missouri Botanical Garden) the plant has been collected in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.  Very little information has been published about this species other than it is a native of the this region of South America.  Our specimen currently (Jan, 06) has leaves of approximately 90cm (3 feet). 
 
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 principle of natural variation and morphogenesis.  Click here.
 
 
 
 
 
Join the International Aroid Society:  http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Join%20IAS.html
 
If you are seeking information on other rare species, click on "Aroids and other genera in the Collection" at the top and look for the