Re: secondary hemiepiphytes

From: alan san juan kalim at erols.com> on 2000.05.24 at 03:49:28(4624) Your mention of fast growing, ground-hugging plants reminds me of something I read ---- that many Philodendron species, when on the ground, seek climbing surfaces by rapidly growing in a "stolon" pattern...with long internodes and very minute leaves. Once a climbing surface is scaled, the plant structure changes, with much shorter internodes and larger, elaborate leaves. I have continued to read up on the subject, and here is another mention of secondary hemiepiphytes and loss of lower stem portions: "The second type start their lives on the ground or on tree trunks near the ground (where they send roots to the ground) and climb trees where they become adults and may lose their connection with the ground. These are referred to as secondary hemiepiphytes (Putz & Holbrook, 1986)." This is from DR. Croat's paper on Philodendrons at: http://www.aroid.org/genera/Philodendron/habgrowpat.htm alan. +More StellrJ@aol.com wrote: > You may well have it. It could be similar to a rhizomatous habit; > rhizomatous plants grow at the shoot end, and die off at the "back" end, > gradually migrating in the direction of growth. Rhizomatous plants put out > roots all along their underground stems (rhizomes). Your secondary > hemiepiphytes do the same all along their climbing stems. The question is, > are there terrestrial rhizomatous plants in the same genera as secondary > epiphytes? This could suggest an evolutionary relationship between the two > habits. > > Jason Hernandez > Naturalist-at-Large

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