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Philodendron

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Philodendron Schott 1832, is a large genus of flowering plants from the arum family (Araceae), consisting of 700 or more species. Taxonomically it is still poorly known with many undescribed species. Many are grown as ornamental and indoor plants.

Tree Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)
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Tree Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)

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 flower spathe may be borne terminally on a stem, or in a leaf axil. They are often fragrant. 

All parts of the plant are poisonous, due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals.

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.

Philodendron sp. - habit
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Philodendron sp. - habit

Reference

 


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