Tropicals & Tender Perennials: What's Your Most Prized Plant?, 1 by ExoticRainforest

ExoticRainforest wrote:
Interesting thread Josh.

I have one I especially like since it will likely soon be named scientifically after a friend. Right now the plant is being called Croat 101488 or Philodendron Species Limón since it was purportedly collected near Limón, Indanza Morona-Santiago, Ecuador.

I came upon it by pure luck at the International Aroid Society Show in Miami in September 2008 when Ivan from Ecuagenera was unpacking all their boxes. Ivan has become a friend and while we were talking he said he had a new plant I would like. He pulled a long leaf Philodendron out of the top box with quilted leaves and without asking the price I told him I'd take it.

I took it straight across the room to Dr. Tom Croat to ask if he knew the species and he immediately asked where I got it. He explained he was certain this was a new species not described to science and began to explain all the things that were unusual.

With his supervision I have photographed and charted notes of the plant almost weekly since we got it home and have made him aware of every new feature we see. I have now taken the plant to his office twice but it is now so large I can't move it without damage. He has now assigned it the research name of Croat 101488 and the scientific description has now been roughly written with only a few details remaining to be seen. he has asked that I not cut it or handle it excessively in order to give it a good shot at producing an inflorescence.

The biggest problem now is we awaiting is the inflorescence which has yet to be observed. He thought it was producing one in May but that turned out to be a false alarm and was only a malformed new leaf We are now hoping for September or October but may have to wait again until spring. A dried specimen of the inflorescence must be with the herbarium specimen of any new species before it can be published. I have already collected and dried leaves, cataphylls, roots etc. for the jacket.

Regardless, it is a beautiful Philodendron and I recently was told by an individual that has assisted Dr. Croat on field searches she has seen it near Limón, the same region Ivan originally said it had been originally found. Once we can collect and pickle an inflorescence so it can be fully studied he plans to publish the plant to science in honor of a mutual friend. If we are lucky enough to be able to pollinate the inflorescence once seen I hope we can distribute seeds with the first ones going to botanical gardens.

I understand Ecuagenera is now growing more of these plants but so far none have shown up on their plant list.

If you would be interested in the studies done so far with the help of a bunch of scientists you can read about it here:

http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Philodendron Limon Ecuador.h...

Steve