Introduction & Overview
Common and Scientific Names
- Scientific Name: Anthurium gracilistipum Croat
- Common Name: None widely recorded
Quick Facts
- Origin: Central Panama (Chiriquí, Coclé, Veraguas) and Nariño Department, Colombia
- Features: Epiphytic habit, slender internodes, brownish-drying blades, green ovate spathe, purplish stipitate spadix with greenish‑yellow berries
Taxonomy & Classification
- Genus: Anthurium
- Botanical Background: Described as a new species by Thomas B. Croat in Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden, vol. 14 (1986). Croat is a leading authority on Neotropical Araceae, having named hundreds of Anthurium taxa.
Natural Habitat & Distribution
- Geographical Range: Endemic to premontane and lower montane rainforests of central Panama (Chiriquí, Coclé, Veraguas) and recorded in the La Planada Reserve of Nariño, Colombia.
- Environment: Premontane to lower montane rainforest, grows on host trunks or large branches; roots in organic debris, often in moss‑laden crotches.
Morphological Characteristics
Leaves
- Narrowly ovate to ovate‑elliptic
- Thin‑coriaceous, drying brownish
- Arranged alternately on slender, elongate internodes
Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)
- Green, ovate, ca. 3–5 cm long spathe
- Slender, stipitate (“gracilistipum” = slender stalk), purplish, bearing spirally arranged flowers that develop into greenish‑yellow berries
- Likely beetle‑ or fly‑mediated pollination
Growth Habit
- Epiphytic subshrub with a short, branching rhizome
- Internodes 3–6 cm apart; cataphylls deciduous or persisting as pale fibers
Cultivation & Care
Light Requirements
- Bright, indirect light
- Avoid direct sun to prevent leaf scorch
Watering & Humidity
- Keep medium evenly moist but not waterlogged
- Maintain high humidity (≥60 %) through misting or humidifier
Soil & Potting Mix
- A well‑draining aroid mix (bark, perlite, peat or coconut coir)
- Good aeration around roots is critical
Temperature & Fertilizer
- Ideal range: 18–24 °C; minimum 15 °C
- Feed monthly with a balanced (e.g., 20‑20‑20) fertilizer at half strength during active growth
Propagation Methods
Division & Cuttings
- Gently separate clumps of rhizome, ensuring each has several leaves and roots
- Take 5–7 cm segments with at least one node; root in moist sphagnum or mix under high humidity
Seeds
- Berries yield seeds
- Sow on sterilized medium, maintain warmth (24 °C) and humidity; germination in 4–8 weeks
Common Pests & Diseases
Typical Issues
- Spider mites, mealybugs, scale
- Root rot from overwatering
Treatment Recommendations
- Insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils
- Neem oil sprays, manual removal of pests, repot in fresh medium for root issues
Notable Traits & Uses
- Name refers to its “slender stalk” spadix
- Member of a section prized for narrow‑leafed species
- Collectors seek it for its graceful inflorescence and adaptability to epiphytic culture in terraria or mounted displays
Conservation & Availability
Wild Population Status
- Habitat fragmentation in Panama and Colombia could pose future risks
Market Availability
- Rare in cultivation
- Occasionally offered by specialist aroid nurseries and through plant‑exchange communities
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