PHILODENDRON BIRIBIRIENSE
PROTOLOGUE: Philodendron biribiriense , published in Kew Bulletin 52: 673 (1997).
Philodendron biribiriense Sakuragui & Mayo sp. nov. Philodendron cipoensi Sakuragui & Mayo et Philodendron rhizomatoso Sakuragui & Mayo affinis sed habitu scandenti, internodiis 1.5–6 cm longis, pagina superiore laminae foliaris glaucescenti, nervis lateralibus primariis tenuioribus, gynoeciis itaque spadicis zona feminina purpureis differt (in Philodendron cipoensi habitus arborescens vel decumbens, internodia 1–2 cm longa, pagina superior laminae foliaris non glaucescens, nervi laterales primarii distincti pagina inferior proeminentes, spadicis zona feminina flavovirens; in Philodendron rhizomatoso caulis rhizomatosus, internodia 0.2–0.5 cm longa, pagina superior laminae foliaris non glaucescens, nervi laterales primarii distincti, spadicis zona feminina e viridi cremea). Typus: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Cavalcanti et al. CFCR 8603 (holotypus SPF).
DISTRIBUTION: Brazil (Minas Gerais: Serra de Espinhaço): Brazil Southeast.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION:
Scandent herb. Stem elongated, gray, feeding roots penetrating rock crevices; internodes 1.5–6 cm long, green near stem apex, becoming gray when older; intravaginal squamules present but deciduous, very slender, purple, 0.5–0.8 mm long, triangular; foliage leaf scars pale gray, 0.8–1.3 × 0.5–0.8 cm, elongate-obovate. Leaves: prophyll green to creamy green, becoming chestnut after withering, 6–14.5 × 1–2 cm, linear-lanceolate; petiole green, sometimes purple veined laterally or apically, 13–25 cm long, sulcate on adaxial side with rounded margins, rounded on abaxial side, sheath green with cream margin, 2.5–5.5 cm long; blade cordate to broadly ovate-cordate, subcoriaceous, adaxial surface glaucous gray, abaxial surface pale green, 13–25 × 9–15 cm, apex acute, anterior division 11–15.5 × 9–15.5 cm, primary lateral veins weakly differentiated, 3–5 on each side, posterior divisions 4–6 × 5–7.5 cm.
INFLORESCENCE:
Inflorescence: peduncle 2.4–4 cm long; spathe yellow-green externally, reddish-green within, 10–11 × 1.5 cm; spadix 8.5–10.5 cm long, male zone 4–5 cm long, sterile zone 0.9–1.2 cm long, female zone purple, 3–3.5 cm long. Flowers: stamens 0.9–1.2 × 1–1.1 mm, rectangular-prismatic; staminodes 1.2–1.8 × 1–2 mm, rectangular-prismatic; gynoecium 1.6–2 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide, conic-lageniform, ovary 0.7–0.9 mm long, locules 7–9 per ovary, ovules 3–4 per locule, placenta basal, stigma 0.9–1 mm wide. Fruit: not seen.
ECOLOGY:
Found epilithic in campo rupestre vegetation, frequently fully exposed to the sun; altitude 800–1200 m.
ETYMOLOGY:
Named for the type locality, Biri-biri, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where the type was collected along the road to Biri-biri in the municipality of Diamantina. The Latinized epithet biribiriense means “of Biri-biri.”
NOTES:
1. Philodendron biribiriense is very similar to Philodendron cipoense and less so to Philodendron rhizomatosum, differing by the following characters: a) internodes longer (1.5–6 cm; 0.2–2 cm in the other two species); b) glaucescent adaxial leaf surface; c) primary lateral veins less pronounced; d) purple gynoecia.
2. The revision of the Brazilian species places it, together with Philodendron cipoense and Philodendron rhizomatosum, in Philodendron subgenus Philodendron section Macrobelium (Schott) Sakuragui; that revision adopted the name Macrobelium because Philodendron imbe, the type of section Calostigma, proved to be a doubtful name.⁴
3. The description is based in part on plants cultivated in a lath house at the University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, where the species failed to flower.
REFERENCES:
1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Philodendron biribiriense
2. Kew Bulletin 52: 673 (1997) — protologue.
3. iNaturalist: Philodendron biribiriense
4. Sakuragui, C.M., Mayo, S.J. & Zappi, D.C. 2005. Taxonomic revision of Brazilian species of Philodendron section Macrobelium. Kew Bulletin 60: 465–513 — sectional placement.
Additional photos from iNaturalist by dylanzoller, Dayvson Costa, LFRocha and entreespinhoseferroes