PHILODENDRON CARDOSOI

PROTOLOGUE: Philodendron cardosoi , published in Willdenowia 34: 525 (2004).

Philodendron cardosoi E. G. Gonç., sp. nova Ad subgenus Philodendron sectionem Polytomium (Schott) Engl. pertinens. Herba terricola, caudex prorepens, internodiis 2–4 × 4–5 cm; prophyllum deciduum, rectum. Petiolus 45–47.5 × 1.3–1.5 cm, supra leviter deplanatus; lamina ambitu ovata, 40–60 × 32–45 cm, pinnatipartita; lobis primariis lateralibus lanceolatis, 6–7 utroque. Pedunculus 16–22 cm longus, 0.6–1 cm diam.; spatha 9–12 cm longa, extus albo-viridis, intus albida marginibus roseis; spadix 8.5–9.3 cm; inflorescentia femina 3–3.2 × 0.6–1.1 cm, mascula sterilis 0.5–0.6 × 1–1.1 cm, mascula fertilis 5.5–6.8 × 0.8–1 cm; ovaria 8–9-locularia, ovula 2–3 per loculum, ad axem affixa. Holotypus: Brazil, Pará, São Geraldo do Araguaia, Parque Estadual da Serra dos Martírios / Andorinhas, nas margens do Rio Araguaia, próximo à Vila de Santa Cruz, no lugar denominado Pedra Escrita, c. 200 m, 7.2003, A. L. R. Cardoso (IAN; isotypus: UB).

DISTRIBUTION: Brazil (Pará): Brazil North.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

Terrestrial herb. Stem creeping, prostrate and rooting; internodes glossy green, 2–4 × 4–5 cm, prophylls purplish, straight, up to 18–22.5 cm long. Leaves erect; petioles 45–47.5 × 1.3–1.5 cm, slightly flattened adaxially, with short wine-coloured stripes; sheath 2–3 cm long; leaf blade pinnatipartite, ovate in outline, 40–60 × 32–45 cm, fresh leaves semi-glossy on both sides, drying light brown; anterior division 27–30 × 29–32 cm, primary lateral veins 6–8 per side, arising at an angle of 50–60° from the midrib, lobes oblanceolate, 18–30 × 1.2–2.5 cm, 8.5–12 times longer than wide, acuminate at apex, sinus ending 3–5 mm from the midrib; posterior divisions 9–11 × 27–28 cm, sinus parabolic, basiscopic lobes 1–2 per side, acroscopic 2–3; basal veins denuded for 1–1.2 cm.

INFLORESCENCE:

Inflorescence erect at anthesis, one per leaf axil; peduncle 16–22 × 0.6–1 cm; concolourous with petiole; spathe 9–12 cm long, whitish green with medium green stripes outside, white inside, slightly constricted at middle, edged with pinkish margins; spadix 8.5–9.3 cm long; fertile male portion 5.5–6.8 × 0.8–1 cm, tapering to the apex; sterile male portion 0.5–0.6 × 1–1.1 cm; female portion 3–3.2 × 0.6–1.1 cm, extending up to 1/3 of the spadix length. Staminate flowers prismatic, 4-androus, 1.5–2 × 0.6–1 mm; staminodes (sterile flowers) subprismatic, 2 × 1 mm. Pistillate flowers with gynoecium 1.3–1.5 mm long, stigma rounded, almost as wide as the ovary, c. 1 mm diam., style inconspicuous; ovary elliptic to obovate, 1–1.2 mm diam., 8–9-locular, 2–3-ovulate, ovules attached to the middle of the flower axis, funicle shorter than the ovules. Infructescence unknown.

ECOLOGY:

Found on quartzite outcrops at c. 200 m, growing as a terrestrial herb with its creeping stem usually buried under the litter.

ETYMOLOGY:

Named in honor of André Cardoso, a Brazilian plant enthusiast who collects, grows and breeds aroids and who showed the author a small group of this Philodendron at his home in Belém, where it was recognized as new to science. The Latinized epithet cardosoi means “of Cardoso.”

NOTES:

1. Philodendron cardosoi belongs to Philodendron subg. Philodendron and has to be placed in sect. Polytomium (Schott) Engl. because of its pinnate leaves. However, it is the only species in the section that is exclusively terrestrial and it will not climb even if an appropriate vertical support is given. Philodendron cardosoi seems to be closer to Philodendron mayoi E. G. Gonç., another species with pinnate leaves from Central Brazil. However, the flowering plants of the latter species are always hemi-epiphytic. The new species may also be confused with the Amazonian Philodendron tortum M. L. Soares & Mayo, but differs in having fewer primary lateral lobes (6–7 instead of 9–10) and for the straight (not curved) prophyll. Another important difference is that the leaves are held erect in Philodendron tortum and inflexed in Philodendron cardosoi.

STORY:

STORY TITLE: Recognized in a collector’s home in Belém

During a brief visit to Belém in 2003, the botanist Eduardo Gonçalves was invited by local collectors to help identify their plants. Among many interesting and poorly known species, one was recognized as a new species of Philodendron.²

It belonged to André Cardoso, a plant enthusiast who collects, grows and breeds aroids and who showed Gonçalves a small group of the plant at his home in Belém; the species is named for him. In the wild it grows on quartzite outcrops along the Rio Araguaia, in the Serra dos Martírios / Andorinhas of southeastern Pará, its creeping stem usually buried under the leaf litter.²

REFERENCES:

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

2. Willdenowia 34: 525 (2004) — protologue.

3. iNaturalist: Philodendron cardosoi

Additional photos by David Scherberich

Additional photos from iNaturalist by Patricia Navarro and Carlito Junior