Philodendron

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Philodendrons

Tree Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Subfamily:	Aroideae
Tribe:	Philodendreae
Genus:	Philodendron Schott 1832

Species

See text.

Philodendron is a large genus of flowering plants from the arum family (Araceae), consisting of close to 1000 or more species according to TROPICOS (a service of the Missouri Botanical Garden). Taxonomically it is still poorly known with many undescribed species. Many are grown as ornamental and indoor plants. The name derives from the Greek philo or "love" and dendron or "tree".

Philodendron species can be found in diverse habitats in tropical America and the West Indies. Most occur in humid tropical forests, but also in swamps, on river banks, roadsides and rock outcrops. They are shrubs and small trees, most of which are capable of clambering over other plants, or climbing the trunks of other trees with the aid of aerial roots.

Leaves are usually large and imposing, often lobed or deeply cut, and may be more or less pinnate. They are borne alternately on the stem. The have long aerial roots found in many shapes and sizes. The flower spathe may be borne terminally on a stem, or in a leaf axil. They are often fragrant. the flowers under good conditons are said to resemble Calla lilies. All parts of the plant are poisonous, due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philodendron Article

1 Flowering and fruiting
2 Growing Philodendron
3 Propagation
4 Species
5 Notes
6 References

[edit] Flowering and fruiting

The flowers of the Brazilian species Philodendron selloum (synonym : Philodendron bipinnatifidum) and the French Guianan species Philodendron solimoesense will thermoregulate during the period prior to opening. Between the hours of 8 and 9 in the evening, the spathes may get as hot as 40 degrees Celsius. This is presumed to be a method of attracting pollinators or otherwise assisting in pollination.^[1] One study looked at three philodendron species and found two different spadix temperatures during there flowering cycle. they concluded heat production and spadix temperature patterns observed may reflect different physiological processes and may suggest difference taxonomically.^[2] The main pollination of P. solimosense is done by a beetle Cyclocephala colasis. The beetles are attracted to the flowers heat, odor, and the presence of food in the form of stigmatic secretion and sterile male flowers.^[3] The fruit develops later in the season and is edible, having a taste akin to bananas.

[edit] Growing Philodendron

Philodendron can be grown in outdoors in mild climates in shady spots. They thrive in moist soils with high organic matter. In milder climates the plants can be grown in pots of soil or in the case of P. oxycardium in containers of water. Indoors plants thrive at temperatures between 60-72 degrees and at lower light than other house plants. Wiping the leave off with water will remove any dust and insects. Plant in pots with good roots systems will benefit from a weak fertilizer solution ever other week.^[4]

[edit] Propagation

New plants can be grown by taking stems cuttings with at least two joints. cuttings can be then rooted in pots of sand and peat moss mixtures. these pots then should be placed in greenhouses with bottom heat of 70-75 degrees. During the rooting they should be kept out of directs sunlight. Once rooted the plants can be transplanted to larger pots or directly outside in milder climates. A second way to propigate philidendrons is to take stems cuttings particularly from trailing varieties and place them in water. In four to five weeks the plant should develop roots and can be transfered to pots.^[5]

[edit] Species

This large genus is subdivided into several sections and subsections :

Section Baursia, section Philopsammos, section Philodendron (subsections Achyropodium, Canniphyllium, Macrolonchium, Philodendron, Platypodium, Psoropodium and Solenosterigma), section Calostigma (subsections Bulaoana, Eucardium, Glossophyllum, Macrobelium and Oligocarpidium), section Tritomophyllum, section Schizophyllum, section Polytomium, section Macrogynium and section Camptogynium.