![]() Instead, they have juvenile leaves and adult leaves, which can be drastically different from one another. A quality of philodendrons is that they do not have a single type of leaf on the same plant. The leaves are borne alternately on the stem. ![]() They can also be oval (Philodendron white princess), spear-shaped, heart-shaped split leaves ( Monstera deliciosa) or in many other possible shape variations. The leaves are usually large and imposing, often lobed or deeply cut, and may be more or less pinnate. Usually, however, philodendrons germinate on trees. After a tree has been found, the scototropic behavior stops and the philodendron switches to a phototropic growth habit and the internodes shorten and thicken. ![]() They find a suitable tree by growing towards darker areas, such as the dark shadow of a tree. For these philodendrons, the plant will grow with long internodes along the ground until a tree is found. Secondary hemiepiphytes do not always start their lives close to a tree. They then begin climbing up a tree and eventually may become completely epiphytic, doing away with their subterranean roots. These philodendrons have their roots in the ground early in their lives. Secondary hemiepiphytes start life on the ground or on part of a tree trunk very close to the ground, where the seeds sprout. The philodendron, in turn, obtains nutrients from the surrounding ant nest, and the aggressive nature of the ants serves to protect the plant from other insects which would eat it. Philodendrons have extrafloral nectaries, glands that secrete nectar to attract the ants. In these species, the ants' nest is grown amongst the plant's roots, which help keep the nest together. Some primary epiphytic species have a symbiotic relationship with ants. In this manner, the plant's strategy is to obtain light early in its life at the expense of nutrients. Once they reach the forest floor, nutrients can be obtained directly from the soil. Once it has reached a sufficient size and age, it will begin producing aerial roots that grow toward the forest floor. ![]() A primary hemiepiphytic philodendron starts life high up in the canopy where the seed initially sprouts. Hemiepiphytic philodendrons can be classified into two types: primary and secondary hemiepiphytes. Others can show a combination of these growth habits depending on the environment. The habits of growth can be epiphytic, hemiepiphytic, or rarely terrestrial. The generic name, Philodendron, is often used as the English name.ĭescription Growth habit Ĭompared to other genera of the family Araceae, philodendrons have an extremely diverse array of growth methods. The name derives from the Greek words philo- 'love, affection' and dendron 'tree'. Many are grown as ornamental and indoor plants. Taxonomically, the genus Philodendron is still poorly known, with many undescribed species. Regardless of number of species, the genus is the second-largest member of the family Araceae, after genus Anthurium. As of September 2015, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepted 489 species other sources accept different numbers. Philodendron is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae.
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