I photographed this aroid on the Pacific coast of Colombia. It´s been identified as Epipremnum aureum. From what I´ve read it is native to parts of asia but no mention of South America. Is this specimen likely planted then or could it indeed be native?
Are you quite sure that's Epipmrenium, Pitter? Is it growing wild, or is it in an area where it could have escaped from cultivation or been planted on purpose? I ask, because my knee-jerk reaction to seeing a plant like that in South America isn't to think it's an Epi, but rather to think it's a Monstera or a Philodendron.... I'll poke Steve - he's the expert on such things.
I have grown Epipremnum aureum to the adult size and it does not looks like this blade. I am sending this link now to two of the world's top botanists as well as several others that know Colombian aroid species and asking for their opinion and will report back. Steve
It looks exactly like the Epipremnum aureum clones grown in Florida. http://www.cityoforlando.net/Internetleugardens/pdfs/PHILODENDRONS.pdf
I just got a comment from an ecologist and am told the species is now almost certainly wild in Colombia as a result of it being grown as a house plant. Once people put it in their yard and it flowers the birds spread it naturally by eating the berries containing seeds. I have yet to hear back from Dr. Croat or Pete Boyce. My largest leaves of our very tall specimen have taken on a totally different shape that even now differ from the largest leaf in the collage below but the species is highly variable. Steve
I just received a follow up from aroid botanist Pete Boyce in Malaysia and he agrees fully you have a major pest on your hands. These are two of his notes from two different emails: This is definitely E. aureum. It's almost now a pantropical weed. Indeed, it’s becoming pestilential here in Malaysia. Pete Since the plant is so invasive I would recommend trying to destroy as much of it as possible. This very popular "house plant" is sold everywhere as "Pothos" but despite its attractive state it is now only an invasive pest. Since Pete is the one that actually discovered where this plant originated in nature you can put money on his identification. The species is a native to the island of Moorea in the Society Islands, north of Australia. Although not a native in other parts of the world, Epipremnum aureum is now common on many Pacific islands as well as Malaysia, in Hawaii, South and Central America, Southern Florida and the Caribbean due to the release of imported plants. E. aureum is so wide spread in Hawaii it is considered an invasive species. Steve
It´s growing in front of a rustic lodge on the coast and could well have been planted as there are some other landscaping plantings. No I am not sure it´s Epipremnum aureum. It´s the only specimen I saw in the area and we did a fair amount of hiking along jungle trails near the beach. I certainly hope it´s not invading because the department of Chocó is one of the more pristine jungle environments in Colombia.
Fortunately, this species does not often flower but if this one is fully mature and does flower the only hope would be there won't be a natural pollinator around but that is not likely since it becomes invasive everywhere it is grown. It would be terrible thing were it to invade the Chocó area because there are many unusual species in that region. You can be sure it is the species, I now have three confirmations the plant is Epipremnum aureum. Steve
