Growing Anthurium hookeri? Maybe not??

Discussion in 'Araceae' started by photopro, Dec 6, 2007.

  1. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    For many years I thought I had two specimens of Anthurium hookeri. In South Florida, plants using that name can be found at many nurseries and are found growing in thousands of yards. But after exchanging mail with two aroid botanists I now don't believe either plant I am growing is truly Anthurium hookeri. Instead, both are very likely some hybrid Anthurium from unknown parents. So you may just want to check the "details" on your plant as well.

    According to aroid botanist Dr. Tom Croat of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Anthurium hookeri should have leaf blades that grow in a rosette cluster similar to many birds nest forms but A. hookeri is scientifically not a member of section Pachyneurium as are all the other similar forms. The actual section placement is still under scientific study, however Dr. Croat does not believe Anthurium hookeri is in that section. Research is being done right now to try to determine the actual section, but Anthurium hookeri may be in a section all its own. The leaves don't have the "ruffled" edges most collectors assume are common to the species. The leaves are thick and leathery to the touch and have black gladular punctates (similar to dots) that can be seen on both surfaces of the leaf. A fully grown leaf should have 9 to 15 veins growing in a "ladder-like" pattern on each side of the center leaf vein and can be up to 89cm long (roughly 3 feet). The spathe is green with a purple tinge and is cylindrically tapered. And despite common believe, the seed berries are whitish in color, not red. You can find indications on some websites (including one scientific source) which states the seed berries of Anthurium hookeri are red but according to the scientific description that is incorrect.

    I'm including a photo provided by botanist David Scherberich for you to compare. But surprisingly, the plant we often consider to be Anthurium hookeri just may not be that species! Here is a link with more information if you are interested in comparing your own plant:

    http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Anthurium hookeri pc.html

    David is associated with the Jardin Botanique de la Ville de Lyon, Parc de la Tete d'Or, Lyon, France. For those who don't speak French, the name is Lyon Botanic Garden.

    I've included the actualy scientific description on the webpage. And by the way, this information is provided for those who prefer to be accurate about the names on their specimen tags. If you prefer to leave the name you have on the specimen you are growing, that is certainly fine. But for those who enjoy learning more and being certain, this may help. But the chances seem high many of us have a hybrid, not the species.

    And for those that may doubt some of this information is accurate, here is the actual scientific description:



    A. hookeri Kunth, Enum. pl. 3:74. 1841. Type: Schott Drawing 517 serves as the lectotype (designated by Mayo, 1982)

    Epiphyte. Internodes short, densely rooted; cataphylls lanceolate, 20-26 cm long, dilacerating from base. VERNATION- supervolute; Leaves rosulate; petioles triangular to D-shaped, 2-9 cm long, 1.5-1.7 cm wide; blades oblanceolate, broadest above middle, margins smooth, black glandular punctate on both surfaces, 35-89 cm long, 10-26 cm wide. primary lateral veins 9-15 per side, free to the margin, tertiary veins extending in a more or less parallel, ladder-like fashion between the primary lateral veins (scalariform). peduncle to 47 cm long, to 5 mm diam.; spathe pale green, tinged purple, oblong, to 9 cm long, to 1.5 cm wide; spadix violet-purple, cylindroid-tapered, to 10-16 cm long, to 5-7 mm diam,; Infructescence- berries, obovoid, whitish, to 6 mm long, to 4.5 mm wide.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 6, 2007
  2. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    Aroid expert Julius Boos explained another difference last evening regarding supervolate varnation. Sounds complicated, but its not! This is another key to discerning if your specimen is , or is not, Anthurium hookeri, "Supervolate vernation is the way the very young emerging leaves are 'folded', (see page 347 of Deni Bown`s book Aroids, Plants of the Arum Family to see what involute verrnation looks like. Check this on most of your birds nest Anthuriums, very interesting when you notice it for the first time. Supervolute vernation is very much like what Deni calls convulute vernation which is what Anthurium hookeri has and what makes it different from all other birds nest Anthuriums, all of which Tom says have involute vernation." If you have a copy of Deni's book, read this for a better understanding.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2007
  3. blackbeauty

    blackbeauty Active Member

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    And may there will be a lot of my countrymen spend their time hang around here to educate theirselves... Ameen.
     
  4. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    Perhaps a better definition of "supervolute": Possessing a convolute arrangement in the folding of a newly emerging leaf blade with one margin (edge) of the new blade emerging rolled inward toward the midrib and the opposite margin rolled around the midrib as well as the remainder of the leaf in a manner similar to the coiled whorl or spiral at the end of a conch shell. Technically the same as convolute vernation but when only a single leaf is involved.

    All birds nest species (members of Philodendron section Pachyneurium) possess involute vernation but Anthurum hookeri does not. The midrib is the central or main vein of a leaf that helps to provide mechanical support.

    See the photo below which illustrates supervolute vernation.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2010
  5. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    Some new photos of the true species described to science as Anthurium hookeri. Most of the plants in Florida sold by that name are hybrids and not the species.

    All these photos were taken of a plant in the living collection of the Missouri Botanical Garden of a verified specimen collected by Dr. Tom Croat.

    Please refer to the link in the first post for more information and photos.
     

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  6. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    This is supervolute vernation. My thanks to my friend Leland Miyano for the use of his photograph.
     

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    Last edited: Jan 20, 2010
  7. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    The photo above of scalariforme vernation is incorrect. It is the interprimary and not the primary veins of this species that are scalariforme. See the photo attached.
     

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