The nice leafy green plant by our window surprised us this week with a bloom. Now several more buds have emerged. Have no clue as to the plant's id.
Saltcedar, Thank you for your ID. I guess I wasn't expecting anthurium with a 2 inch bloom. The first one I saw was at the Pittsburgh (PA) botanical garden in 1970. Its bloom was over 12 inches. That plant was much larger and more mature
It is suspected there are over 1000 species of Anthurium. Many plants are enormous. My largest specimen, and I have about 60 species, has leaves almost 6 feet long. That one is Anthurium schtendalii and is the plant next to the park bench. The specimen in your photo is almost certainly a cultivar of Anthurium andreanum. A. andreanum is often cultured in Hawaii and they seem to love to try to "invent" new variables in their hybrids. And this is an unusual and stunning color for sure. The majority of Anthurium species do not have inflorescences with this stunning color but many have very odd shapes. Some inflorescences are quite large and others are very diminutive. Likely, the one you saw that had the large inflorescence was a cultivar known in Hawaii as Anthurium 'Obaki'. It too is a cultivar of Anthurium andreanum and the spathe can grow both large, colorful and beautiful. Anthurium species are one of the most promiscuous of all tropical species and will quickly interbreed with other Anthurium species in their vicinity. Hawaiian growers often try to introduce a new cultivar as an "unidentified species" on the market. As a result, botanists often have a challenge in identifying new clones that come to the attention of science. They are often simply natural hybrids found in nature. But new species are uncovered almost every year, especially in the rain forests of Ecuador. Dr. Tom Croat of the Missouri Botanical Garden specializes in this group of plants and often brings back new specimens in an attempt to determine if they are unidentified species. He has one in the MOBOT collection that has enormous leaves (my guess would be over 8 feet long) with an incredible shape and texture (see photo). That one still does not have a scientific name and may be the only specimen of its kind in a botanical collection. He told me last summer he collected over 3000 new plants (not all were Anthurium sp.) in just over one month! I have yet to find out how many may actually be new to science. Some species, such as the Anthurium regale shown with my wife, have a velvet leaf blade and are quite stunning. The leaf of that plant, which is from Peru, is capable of growing 6 feet long as well! Our's currently has a leaf just under 3 feet. Regardless, they are beautiful plants and many collectors specialize solely in the collection of Anthurium species.
Photopro, Thank you for the follow-up. Your information definitely added to my knowledge about this plant. Who knew a 49 cent special from the bargain table at our local building supply store would bring us such visual joy and initiate an internet search.
