Anthurium heathlongiorum Croat

• Genus: Anthurium
• Botanical Background: Described by Thomas B. Croat in Aroideana 45(3): 86 (2022); epithet honours the collectors Melanie Heath and Adrian Long, British ornithologists who made the only known collections of the species.

• Geographical Range: Endemic to the state of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico.
• Environment: Found in wet tropical rainforests, thriving in the wet tropical biome with consistently high humidity and warm temperatures.

Leaves

• Leathery blades
• Variable from ovate to lanceolate
• Clustered spirally
• Prominent basal and primary lateral veins

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Pedunculate spadix surrounded by a green, lanceolate spathe
• Flowers spirally arranged on the spadix

Growth Habit

• Primarily epiphytic on tree branches
• With a short sympodial stem and adventitious roots
• Found as a terrestrial on the forest floor

Light Requirements

• Bright filtered light
• Avoid prolonged direct sun to prevent leaf scorch 

Watering & Humidity

• Medium evenly moist but never waterlogged
• High humidity is essential
• Mist regularly or use a humidifier

Soil & Potting Mix

• Well‑draining aroid mix combining orchid bark, perlite, and peat moss

Temperature & Fertilizer

• Temperatures range 16–22 °C

• A weak balanced fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season

Division and Stem Cuttings

• Most common propagation is by dividing clumps at the rhizome or by stem cuttings
• Ensure at least one node per section

Seeds

• Viable seeds form on the spadix
• Require warm, humid conditions for germination
• Best sown in a sterile aroid mix

Typical Issues

• Anthracnose, bacterial blight, root rot, spider mites, and mealybugs

Treatment Recommendations

• Apply fungicides
• Bactericides for blight
• Remove and destroy infected leaves
• Insecticidal soaps or neem oil sprays
• Increase humidity and rinse foliage

• Named in honor of British ornithologists Melanie Heath and Adrian Long
• Highlight the interdisciplinary nature of its discovery

• Rare and regionally endemic species prized by aroid collectors
• Attractive, venation‑rich foliage
• Not commonly found in mainstream trade

Wild Population Status

• Known only from a limited area in Chiapas
• No formal conservation assessment

Market Availability

• Absent from major retail listings of Anthurium cultivars
• Limited availability outside specialist nurseries