I've got two orchids I need an ID on. The first two pics are of an orchis I have heard people call "Pineapple Orchid"...the second two pics are one I picked up yesterday titled "Cawnifolium Fat boy" Cawnifolium doesn't even exist according to google!! Unforunately the second orchis isn't flowering. Any ideas anyone?? Thanks in advance Ed
The first looks like a Dendrobium (from the flowers probably speciosum - an Australian native). I haven't a clue as to the second. Shaun
According to TROPICOS Philodendron cannifolium and Philodendron martianum are not synonyms despite the note in Deni Bown's book that indicates they are. There is another species that is also similiar, Philodendron callosum. But it appears Shaun is likely correct. One photo on Google of P. callosum is actually Philodendron verrucosum so be cautions about looking that one up on Google.
This is getting even more murky. I do believe Shaun is likely correct. But I've spent the afternoon corresponding with noted Philodendron experts and so far have received a variety of responses. Dr. Croat is in Ecuador so I can't get him to comment. Leland Miyano, who is extremely knowledgeable regarding Philodendron species sent this note. I have been able to find both Philodendron cannifolium and Philodendron martianum on TROPICOS as separate species. That source does not indicate either is a synonym for the other. Philodendron cannaefolium is not listed on TROPICOS. But Leland does know his stuff! "I do not know what the current taxonomic status regarding the name, Philodendron cannaefolium,or P. cannifolium, is. If you attempt to find this name on Tropicos, no such name pops up. I know this plant as Philodendron martianum...but this is the same taxon. Whatever name you use, it is a beautiful plant...and it gets better with age. In habitat, it is found in lowland forests and coastal restingas...usually as an epiphyte. It can get moderately large and as it gets older the petioles become more inflated and the leaf blades more coriaceous. Most people use the name, Philodendron cannaefolium...so if you see another beeing sold as Philodendron martianum, it should be the same plant. I grow mine as terrestrials since they grow happily there and I do not have enough trees for all my epiphytes. They prefer bright light levels, and will go into suspended animation if grown in too much shade. It grows steadily and surely from cuttings...but watch for rot." Shaun, can you tell us where you came across your ID? And Chris, can you give any source other than Deni? I never trust plant photos on the internet that are from unverified souces. So this is turning into a good plant mystery. Leland is trying to come up with a verified photo but so far I can find none in any of the scientific texts in my library. If any of you have a scientific source, please give us a heads up so we can come to a positive solution on this one. One other note, Leland is the guest speaker at this year's Intenational Aroid Show in Miami, Sept. 15-16. If you're near Miami, come meet him! Steve
I just googled possible variations for the name Cawnifolium. That's the thing about a free search is that it's only worth as much as you paid for it :) Shaun
Well, we're on the road to some sort of solution. I personally think you are correct. I just received this note from Leland, "I am so bad...I had a typo on Philodendron! I took a look at Philodendron cannifolium in Tropicos and it says the current determination is Spathiphyllum cannifolium! Now whether this is the determination of their specimens or that Philodendron cannifolium was actually described from a Spathiphyllum...I could not tell from Tropicos. Did you ever get the Lorenzi book with Roberto's plants? It has errors, but the Philodendron martianum illustrated notes Philodendron cannifolium is a synonym....Eduardo Gonsalves worked on this section. Just remember that even experts can get it wrong... This would be a good start, however." That mucks things up a bit more, and I've yet to buy that volume. But Dr. Eduardo Gonçalves in Brazil is one of the world's top Philodendron experts. A note from aroid expert Julius Boos agrees with your identification. I'm about to send a note to Eduardo but it often takes days to received a response. Steve
Thanks alot everyone for your efforts so far...I thought the second one was an orchid. Why do I always get the hard ones?? lol I guess we will have to wait for Eduardo's response. Ed
Well Ed, if you want to make this "puzzle" even more confusing, with Leland's help I've been working this plant backwards through TROPICOS. This may well not be a Philodendron sp. Instead the basionym (base plant name) appears to be Spathiphyllum cannifolium. No kidding, it appears to be a spath! The inflorescence looks exactly like those of common spath plants. I'm still waiting on a response from Dr. Gonçalves in hopes he can clear this one up. But you can work it back yourself on TROPICOS. If you look up Spathiphyllum cannifolium you'll find Philodendron cannifolium is a synonym. The species is apparently common to most of the northern portion of South America as far south as Peru.
I think it was Tropicos that I was at but the photos of S. cannifoliom don't match but the P. cannifolium appear to be the same plant... Ed
This is the correct thread for Missouri Botanical Garden's TROPICOS. I'm not sure of the site you were on. http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html
OK...found few photos that look very similar to my second plant. Have a look at www.aroid.info/gatunki/philodendron/philodendron_cannifolium.html and www.briansbotanicals.net/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=243&osCsid=687032614736ecad738c34ec86b8 So no matter they want to call it now, visually I'd say that this is very close...what does everyone else think?? Ed
I'll try to verify this with Brian on the weekend. The spathes in his photo do not look like the spathes on TROPICOS. The plant leaves certainly do.
OK Ed! There were some very large specimens of your plant on display at the IAS aroid show. The largest had leaves that stood well over 2 feet above the soil. While I was in Miami I received an email from Dr. Gonçalves. And Shaun, you've got the sharpest eye of all of us!! "Sorry for the long silence. I have been quite busy lately. The plant in your picture is P. martianum. The name P. cannifolium can't be used for another problem I can't remember right now, but the name P. martianum is now the correct one." . So, it appears sometimes the literature, even electronic literature, doesn't quite keep up with the facts. It is in fact Philodendron martianum! And it was demanding a pretty good price in Miami!
Thanks so much Steve and everyone else who contributed. There is not much information on this plant on the net. This thread was number 8 on google over here. Is this a rare plant or fairly common? I paid $15 Aus for mine. Sounds like I got a bargain... Ed
I think we can safely declare it rare as far as collectors go. I'm not sure of the status in the wild. The one at the IAS show had a much higher price tag on it. I was tempted, but not that much! I'm currently looking for a specimen to add to the collection and once I find one I'll check with Dr. Croat and Eduardo again on the wild status of the species. But in the meantime, you got a deal!!
Sounds like I did get a deal...I might go to the same nursery and purchase more of these. Will full shade or dapled light be OK for this Philo Ed
The guys I talked to suggested either. I'd try one or the other and watch it grow. If you don't get the growth you expect try moving it to slightly more or less light. I'd guess (didn't have a tape handy) the blades were 30cm and the bulb portion was at least another 30cm. Nice big plants!
I'll have to measure my blades when I get home. I don't believe they are climbers, is this true? I measured my blades and they are 27cm!! What price did they want for the 30cm specimen?? Ed
Oh and I've been doing some snooping around the nurseries and there is quite a few of them being sold, apparently not so rare in Australia. Most nurseries have been buying these plants off some Aroid nut up in Cairns. Steve I have a feeling its the same guy from Aroid l?? Ed
There are several very knowledgeable aroid growers in Australia. If one is producing this species in large quantity, I'm not personally aware.
When I said "nut" I meant it in the best possible way :) He's at www.equatorialexotics.com Thought you might know the guy, thats all Ed
