Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Id on my new plant , 1 by ExoticRainforest

ExoticRainforest wrote:
Philodendron Brasil is a cultivar of Philodendron hederaceum. the name "Brasil" is not a scientific name but instead a commercial name.

P. hederaceum is one of the most variable of all aroids and takes on many "faces" with very different colors and leaf textures. Some have velutinous (velvety) upper blade surfaces while others such as "Brasil" do not. The colors of "Brasil" change as it grows and in a few years it will loose the mixed colors and change to be very much like a plant commonly known as Philodendron miduhoi. P. miduhoi, P. micans, P. scandens, P. oxycardium and many other plants are simply synonyms of Philodendron hederaceum.

Since Philodendron hederaceum was first correctly described and published scientific name that appeared in a scientific journal before all the other names it becomes the accepted name while the later named plants become synonyms.

These are the dates each was described : Philodendron hederaceum (Jacq.) Schott (1829), Synonyms: Philodendron scandens (1853), Philodendron micans (1854), Philodendron cuspidatum, (1854), Philodendron oxycardium (1856), Philodendron acrocardium (1858), Philodendron microphyllum (1854), Philodendron hoffmannii (1858), Philodendron pittieri (1899), Philodendron miduhoi (1950). Each produces the same inflorescence and the characteristics of the plant (stem, cataphyll, nodes, internodes, etc) are the same. Many aroids are highly variable and just because the leaves don't look alike does not indicate a different species although in the 1800's that fact was not well understood.

Variation is a very confusing subject, especially to collectors. This link explains in as simple terms as possible why plants don't have to look alike to be the same species. The page includes the confusion over Philodendron hederaceum and is explained here with photos:

http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Natural variation within aro...

This message was edited Apr 3, 2010 6:44 PM

This message was edited Apr 3, 2010 6:49 PM