PHILODENDRON ADHATODIFOLIUM

PROTOLOGUE: Philodendron adhatodifolium , published in Synopsis Aroidearum Complectens Enumerationem Systematicam Generum et Specierum Huju Ordinis 81 (1856).

Philodendron adhatodifolium Schott, Syn. Aroid.: 81 (1856), published as “adhatodaefolium”.

Petiolus teres, longus; lamina elongato-elliptica, basi rotundata, apice breviter-acuminata, costa e petiolo attenuata, venis distantibus, utrinque 4–5, tenuibus, venulis in media lamina aperte-patentibus. — Venezuela.

DISTRIBUTION: Venezuela: Venezuela.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

Translated from protologue: Petiole terete, long; blade elongate-elliptic, base rounded, apex briefly acuminate, the midrib tapering from the petiole, the veins distant, 4–5 on each side, slender, the veinlets openly spreading in the middle of the blade.

ETYMOLOGY:

Although the protologue does not explain the name, the epithet is a compound of Adhatoda — a genus in the Acanthaceae — and Latin folium, “leaf,” and so likely refers to a resemblance between this species' leaves and those of Adhatoda.

NOTES:

1. The type material is H. W. Schott's own drawing of the species rather than a herbarium specimen, deposited at the Natural History Museum, Vienna; a photograph of the drawing (negative N.S. 4109) is held in the New York Botanical Garden's Type Photograph Collection.

REFERENCES:

1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Philodendron adhatodifolium

2. Synopsis Aroidearum Complectens Enumerationem Systematicam Generum et Specierum Hujus Ordinis: 81 (1856) — protologue.