Philodendron altomacaense Nadruz & Mayo

Sakuragui, C., Mayo, S., & Zappi, D. (2005). Taxonomic Revision of Brazilian Species of Philodendron Section Macrobelium. Kew Bulletin, 60(4), 465-513. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25070239

Type

Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Nova Friburgo, Mun. Macaé de Cima, Nadruz & Mayo 779 (holotype RB, isotype K).

Morphology General Habit

Hemi-epiphytic, sometimes terrestrial vine

Morphology Stem

Apex green becoming chestnut-coloured in the mature parts, internodes 4-7 cm long

Morphology Leaves Prophyll

Prophyll 30 x 1.5 cm, reddish-cream, becoming brownish, narrowly triangular, sharply 2-ribbed

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole 45 - 70 cm long, green, becoming reddish-green towards the apex

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blade 45 - 48 x 26 - 34 cm, elliptic cordate, apex acute, base cordate to subsagittate, dark green, shiny on the adaxial surface, coriaceous; anterior division 26 - 37 x 16 - 25 (- 31) cm, primary lateral veins 6-9 per side, interprimary veins distinct; posterior divisions 8-18 x 14-36 cm, acroscopic veins 0-2 per side, basioscopic veins 2-3 per side; basal veins 4 - 7, with none or rarely 1 free to base; posterior rib naked for 1.8 - 3.2 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

1-3 per floral sympodium; peduncle 4-5 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Spathe

Spathe 12-19 x 1.6 - 2.3 cm, boat shaped, not constricted, greenish cream outside, cream with base reddish to wine coloured inside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spadix

Spadix 13-17 cm long; male zone 6 - 8 cm long; intermediate male sterile zone 1.3-1.5 cm long; apical male sterile zone 0.8 - 0.9 cm long, female zone 5.8 - 6.5 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Stamens 1.8 - 2 x 1.2 - 1.8 mm, intermediate sterile stamens 1.8-2 x 2 - 2.5 mm, apical sterile stamens 1.5-1.8 x 1.3 - 1.5 mm; gynoecium 3.5 -4x2- 2.5 mm, ovary with 8 - 10 locules, 2-3 ovules per locule, placentation sub basal

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries 6-7 mm long, cream

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed 1.5 mm long, ellipsoid.

Distribution

Macaé de Cima, Rio de Janeiro.

Ecology

Hemi-epiphytic, sometimes terrestrial, in Atlantic forest, 913 m altitude.

Phenology

Found in flower in November and December and with immature fruits in February.

Conservation

Critically Endangered (CR), B1, a, b (i, iii); extent of occurrence <100 km2. Studied in the field by the first author, and so far only known from a single population, protected within the Reserva Ecológica de Macaé de Cima.

Note

Philodendron altomacaense can be easily recognized by the dark green leaves with primary lateral and interprimary veins strongly impressed on the adaxial surface of the leaves. Nadruz Coelho (1995) considered it close to P. apparicioi G. M. Barroso (= P. cordatum Kunth ex Schott) because of the unspotted petiole and spathe, leaf blade with entire margin and low number of locules per locule. Philodendron appendiculatum Nadruz & Mayo is the species most similar to P. altomacaense because of its similarity in gyneocial characters and the presence of an apical sterile zone in the spadix. However, in P. altomacaense the interprimary veins are very well developed between the 6-9 primary lateral veins on each side, while in P. appendiculatum the interprimaries are not so evident and there are only 3-5 primary lateral veins per side. The gynoecium of P. appendiculatum has a 5 - 8-locular ovary, while in P. altomacaense it is normally 9-11-locular. Although they share the same type locality, P. appendiculatum has a broader distribution. Philodendron altomacaense has great potential as an ornamental plant.

CATE Araceae, 17 Dec 2011. araceae.e-monocot.org

Conservation

Critically Endangered (CR), B1, a, b (i, iii); extent of occurence <100 km 2. Studied in the field by the first author, and so far only known from a single population, protected within the Reserva Ecológica de Macaé de Cima.

Phenology

Found in flower in November and December and with immature fruits in February.

Distribution

Brazil: Macaé de Cima, Rio de Janeiro.

General Description

Hemi-epiphytic, sometimes terrestrial vine. Stem: apex green becoming chestnut-coloured in the mature parts, internodes 4-7 cm long. Prophyll 30 x 1.5 cm, reddish-cream, becoming brownish, narrowly triangular, sharply 2-ribbed. LEAVES: Petiole 45-70 cm long, green, becoming reddish-green towards to the apex. Leaf blade 45-48 x 26-34 cm, elliptic cordate, apex acute, base cordate to subsagittate, dark green, shiny on the adaxial surface, coriaceous; anterior division 26-37 x 16-25 (-31) cm, primary lateral veins 6-9 per side, interprimary veins distinct; posterior divisions 8-18 x 14-36 cm, acroscopic veins 0-2 per side, basioscopic veins 2-3 per side; basal veins 4-7, with none or rarely 1 free to base; posterior rib naked for 1.8-3.2 cm. INFLORESCENCE: 1-3 per floral sympodium; peduncle 4-5 cm long. Spathe 12-19 x 1.6-2.3 cm, boat shaped, not constricted, greenish-cream outside, cream with base reddish to wine-coloured inside. Spadix 13-17 cm long; male zone 6-8 cm long; intermediate male sterile zone 1.3-1.5 cm long; apical male sterile zone 0.8-0.9 cm long, female zone 5.8-6.5 cm long. Flowers: stamens: 1.8-2 x 1.2-1.8 mm, intermediate sterile stamens: 1.8-2 x 2-2.5 mm, apical sterile stamens 1.5-1.8 x 1.3-1.5; gynoecium 3.5-4 x 2-2.5 mm, ovary with 8-10 locules, 2-3 ovules per locule, placentation sub-basal. Berries 6-7 mm long, cream. Seed 1.5 mm long, ellipsoid.

Habitat

Hemi-epiphytic, sometimes terrestrial, in Atlantic forest.