The plant is an Anthurium but I can't be positive of the species. I'm sending the link to a couple of experts so we can try to find an accurate ID. Good photos of the stem (base of the plant), as well as the shape of the petioles which support the leaves would be very helpful. The petioles appear to be short so a measurement would also be helpful. Also, please count the primary lateral leaf veins. Only count one side on each leaf and tell me what the range of vein numbers actually is. If the number is different on each side of the leaf please include that in the range. Both the color of the spadix as well as the spathe of the inflorescence are distinctive and remind me of a couple of species but once we have more info we can figure out the species. I suspect this is a juvenile plant that is not yet mature which makes the ID somewhat more difficult. Do you know the age of the plant? Is this growing in Georgia?
well, shoot! i didn't see steve's post before i sent mine through!! it's an anthurium?? i'd never have thought so!
The plant strongly resembles Anthurium hookeri (the actual species, not the hybrids sold with that name) but the venation near the top of the blade (veins) is not ladder-like (scalariforme). The color of the spadix is correct as well but I'll have to wait to hear from a couple of guys that know their stuff bofore making any declaration as to species. http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Anthurium hookeri pc.html If you look at the underside of the leaf blade do you see tiny black dots? This could be a hybrid of Anthurium hookeri with some other species. Those black dots which are known as glandular punctations are very important if this is the species.
One more question. Have you ever seen this plant produce berries on the spadix? If so, what was the color? If they were red or some other color this isn't Anthurium hookeri but if they are white it is almost certainly either the species or a hybrid of the species.
Mr. Lucas no it wasnt growing wild in GA if that's what you mean. I bought this plant 3 yrs ago at a plant yard sale. The woman I purchased it from had it many years. I have seen the berry's they were red. All she told me about it was she thought it might be a elephant ear. It should be bigger but I accidently let frost hit it last year and what is pictured is all new grow from this year. When I got it it was about 2 or 2 1/2 ft tall. I will however get the other information you mentioned along with other pics if needed. Thx for you info Sally
I just confirmed the spathe is a match to the published scientific description of a newly opened inflorescence for Anthurium hookeri due to the purple fringe on the spathe. In a few days the spathe should reflex (turn back-wards) and hang pendently (downward). The plant could possibly be pollinated by a natural insect but I highly doubt it this late in the year. It is possible to rub the spadix lightly (up and down) once you begin to see pollen produced and cause it to self pollinate but it will be far too cold by the time the berries are produced for them to ripen. Just in case anyone is curious how pollination in aroid species is accomplished this will answer most of your questions: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Natural and artificial pollination in aroids.html However, the vein structure isn't right for Anthurium hookeri so it would at least appear there is another parent species involved. The only way to figure that one out would be through DNA which would be very expensive. The primary lateral leaf veins should be evenly spaced as well as meet at the midrib from each side of the blade. That doesn't happen in these photos. If we were to know the characteristics of the petioles, stem and a few other features we might be able to make a good guess but my guess is this is a hybrid. I'm still waiting on a response from people much smarter than am I.
Thanks Sally. It would be my opinion this is a hybrid cross between Anthurium hookeri and a species we don't know. The red berries will be a good clue as to the other parent but that color is very common in many Pachyneurium Anthurium species. Once the other info is known it might be possible to make a better guess. By the way, Pachyneurium is section of Anthurium (the group) of Anthurium known as the Bird's Nest forms. However, even though Anthurium hookeri has the general shape of a Pachyneurium it doesn't fit in the section due to some of its characteristics. My friend Dr. Tom Croat has considered placing it in a section all its own but so far no action has been taken. The plant is found primarily in the lower Eastern Caribbean including Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, and a few other islands as well as portions of northeastern South America. As for "Elephant Ear", I personally hate the term since it is used for many hundreds of(perhaps close to 1000) different plants from many different genera! Bird's Nest Anthurium would be a better choice of common names. Protect the plant from frost and you've still got a prize. I'd grow it in my atrium any day! I've been trying to locate a pure species specimen for years but they are difficult to find. If you go to any nursery in South Florida and ask to by an "Anthurium hookeri" you'll be sold a hybrid plant that produces red berries. Most of the time these are hybrid crosses with Anthurium schlechtendalii but the growers will breed anything and call it "Anthurium hookeri". A real Anthurium hookeri will always have the scalariforme veins (formed in the shape of a ladder) as well as produce white berries. And by the way, I'm getting old but Steve is great with me! "Mr." makes me feel old!
