Anthurium minutiareolum Croat

• Genus: Anthurium
• Botanical Background: Described by Thomas B. Croat, a leading Araceae authority, in Aroideana 45(2): 349 (2022)

• Geographical Range: Northwestern Ecuador, specifically Esmeraldas Province (type locality: Lita‑San Lorenzo Road, 14.2 km W of Río Lita Bridge at 00°52′11″N 78°27′16″W)
• Environment: Occurs in wet tropical (pluvial) forest understories, where humidity is high and soils are rich in organic matter. Many Porphyrochitonium species in this region are terrestrial, unlike their predominantly epiphytic relatives

Leaves

• Blades are elongated and strap‑like rather than heart‑shaped
• Membranous to chartaceous, dark green above
• Paler beneath, with fine glandular punctations visible under magnification

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Features a slender peduncle bearing a small spathe and cylindrical spadix
• Spathe coloration ranges from greenish to pale
• Flowers are perfect and arranged in spirals on the spadix, pollinated by small insects

Growth Habit

• Arising from a short creeping rhizome with slender, erect stems
• In the wettest parts of the Pacific slope
• Porphyrochitonium species—including A. minutiareolum are unusually terrestrial

Light Requirements

• Bright, indirect light

• Avoid direct sun to prevent leaf scorch

Watering & Humidity

• Water when the top third of the mix dries
• Maintain humidity around 60–80 percent

Soil & Potting Mix

• Use a loose, well‑draining mix of peat, perlite, and orchid bark to retain moisture yet prevent waterlogging

Temperature & Fertilizer

• Keep between 16–22 °C
• Feed every two weeks with a balanced, diluted houseplant fertilizer during active growth

Division and Cuttings

• Divide the creeping rhizome or take stem cuttings with at least one node
• Root in moist, sterile medium under high humidity

Seeds

• Viable but germinate slowly
• Sow on a moist, sterile substrate at 22–25 °C
• Keeping the medium lightly covered to retain humidity

Typical Issues

• Aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and scale
• Root rot by Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, and Pythium under poorly drained conditions 
• Regular inspection, good air circulation, and well‑draining media help prevent issues

Treatment Recommendations

• Treat infestations with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or alcohol swabs
• For root rot, trim affected roots, repot in fresh mix, and adjust watering frequency

• Part of a hyperdiverse section that has undergone explosive speciation in the Chocó‑Darien region of Colombia and Ecuador
• Many species are minute and easily overlooked

• Collectors prize it for its rarity and delicate form
• Candidate for terrarium or vivarium cultivation where its small size and moisture needs can be met

Wild Population Status

• Not yet evaluated by the IUCN
• Known only from a narrow range, potentially vulnerable to deforestation and habitat fragmentation

Market Availability

• Rarely offered commercially

• Occasionally available through specialist aroid nurseries and plant exchanges