Philodendron crassinervium

Philodendron crassinervium
Philodendron crassinervium growing in the wild in São Paulo state
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Genus:	Philodendron
Section:	Philodendron sect. Baursia
Species:	P. crassinervium
Binomial name
Philodendron crassinervium Lindl.

Philodendron crassinervium is a species of plant in the genus Philodendron native to southeast Brazil.

It has lance-shaped leaves that point upwards and can grow almost a meter long with a width of about 10 centimetres (3.9 in). The leaves have a prominent midvein that is used to store water for periods of drought that occur during the dry season. Along the midvein, there are small red glands that produce a clear sap that results in a freckled-look on both sides of the leaves. The plant has a climbing growth habit. Its aerial roots of the plant are red when they first begin growing and later turn a dark brown with age.

The spadix of Philodendron crassinervium gets to about 20–25 cm long and is covered by a spathe that is white with shades of a dark red towards the bottom where the spadix emerges. The berries produced contain eight axile ovules in each ovary locule.

It is a part of the section Baursia. In fact, it is the type species of this section. There are some species that resemble Philodendron crassinervium, such as Philodendron longilaminatum.

Closeup of aerial roots

References

• Lindl., Edwards's Botanical Register 23: t. 1958. 1837.
• Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Vol. XI of new series, Vol. LXIV of whole work, Page 3621