PHILODENDRON BIPENNIFOLIUM

Species

PROTOLOGUE: Philodendron bipennifolium , published in Oesterreichisches Botanisches Wochenblatt 5: 289 (1855). The protologue is reproduced below.

SYNONYMS:

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS: Philodendron wayombense A.M.E.Jonker & Jonker

DISTRIBUTION: S. Venezuela to N. & E. Brazil: Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast, Suriname, Venezuela.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

Translated from protologue: Climbing; leaf blade hastate to somewhat pandurate, somewhat 3–5-lobed, the middle lobes short, rectangular, obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE:

Translated from protologue: Several spadices from the same axil; spathe blade dirty-white, the tube whitish within; spadix with the male part covered in numerous clustered vesicles forming rather widely spaced florets, without synantheria.

ETYMOLOGY:

Although the original description does not explicitly explain the name, it likely refers to the bipinnate or twice-feathered appearance of the leaf blade.

NOTES:

1. Philodendron bipennifolium is sometimes confused with Philodendron panduriforme, and at least one popular book treats the two as the same plant.⁴,⁵ In 2007 Steve Lucas observed that many sellers, especially on eBay, appeared to be offering juvenile Philodendron bipennifolium as Philodendron panduriforme and the reverse.⁴ Tom Croat, who regards them as different species, said that Philodendron panduriforme is usually more deeply three-lobed.⁵

REFERENCES:

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

2. Oesterreichisches Botanisches Wochenblatt 5: 289 (1855) — protologue.

3. iNaturalist: Philodendron bipennifolium

4. Aroid-L mailing list, Steve Lucas, June 12th, 2007

5. Aroid-L mailing list, Tom Croat, June 15th, 2007

Additional photos from iNaturalist by Thibault Lebrun, Nils Servientis - Bivouac Naturaliste, Rodrigo Tinoco, Luan Cordeiro Bortolotti and Lucas Barcelos