A friend asked me to transplant this sad house plant. It is rather unique and needed a serious trim. So I have cuttings and am attempting to start them. An ID would be helpful. It kinda looks like a philodendron. I have no camera with which to take a picture, but when I can get hold of one, I will post it. At present there is several central stems coming from the potting material with leaves coming directly from the 4 to 5 foot smooth stems about the width of my index finger. There are several dead that have been broken at the first node. The stems are all reddish but the older stems are outright red and have no leaves. When stems break due to weight, they break right at a node and send out a new shoot right at the side of the break at a very odd angle. When broken or cut they do not issue any noticable sap or liquid. Leaves are big, (Full sized 9-11 inches long and about 4-5" wide) simple and alternate on new greener stems and are smooth and glossy with smooth undulate edges. Petioles add another 1.5 ". The leaves are heart shaped with one lobe missing and polka dotted white on dark green. The undersides of the leaves are red and reveal strong green veining. The shape of the leaves reminds me of a begonia (indoor var.) but it has no hair. Veination is pinate. There are no flowers or seeds observed. Unfortunately the plant is quite old and neglected. It is very leggy and needed repotted for years, probably. The root system was not too much to speak of and hard to know what it was really supposed to look like, but there was one strong root circling the pot and some smaller roots coming from it and from other shoots on the plant. There did not appear to be enough root to support the plant. Any info you have would be helpful. Thanks for looking. At present I have several of the cuttings in water and will try to start some in differing manners. I will also attempt to start some leaves begonia fashion with sliced veins and placing them on the surface of soil with petiole into dirt. happyfeetnow@yahoo.com
