Anthurium palacioanum Croat

• Genus: Anthurium
• Botanical Background: Described by Thomas B. Croat, Jane Whitehill, and Emily D. Yates in 2007 during the proposal of subsection Rupicola in Aroideana.

• Geographical Range: Known only from two localities in Napo Province: the type locality in Canton El Chaco and along the Hollín–Loreto Road in Canton Archidona, Ecuador.
• Environment: Grows on rocks in rapidly flowing streams within premontane rainforest at 800–1980 m elevation; wet tropical biome conditions with high humidity.

Leaves

• Blades subcoriaceous, epunctate, ovate‑rhombic, 13.5–18 × 9.5–12 cm
• Apex gradually acuminate, base broadly obtuse to truncate
• Petioles 16–19 cm long
• Geniculum 1.5 cm long

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Peduncle robust, 31 cm long; spathe green, oblong‑lanceolate (4.3 × ~1 cm), erect‑spreading to reflexed
• Spadix 4.7 cm long, white to cream, ~6 mm diameter; ~4 flowers per spiral

Growth Habit

• Rupicolous subshrub with short stems and internodes (~1 cm diameter), few roots, and deciduous cataphylls
• No tubers or rhizomes

Light Requirements

• Bright, indirect light for ~6 hours daily
• Avoid direct sun to prevent leaf scorch

Watering & Humidity

• Keep substrate evenly moist but not waterlogged
• Water when the top 1–2 inches dry
• Maintain 70–80% humidity

Soil & Potting Mix

• Use a well‑draining mix (50% orchid bark + 50% houseplant potting media) or a blend of bark, perlite, and peat moss
  

Temperature & Fertilizer

• 65–85 °F (18–29 °C)
• Feed weekly with diluted liquid fertilizer during active growth

Division and Cuttings

• Propagate via stem cuttings with at least one node or by dividing clumps
• Maintain high humidity for rooting

Seeds

• Fruits are berries typically containing two seeds
• Sow fresh seeds in a warm, moist, shaded medium; germination may take several weeks

Typical Issues

• Spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects, thrips, and fungus gnats
• Look for yellow stippling, cottony masses, webbing, or sticky honeydew

Treatment Recommendations

• Use insecticidal soap or neem oil sprays
• Remove mealybugs with alcohol‑dipped swabs
• Increase humidity and isolate infested plants

• Adapted to riparian rock habitats
• Epunctate, subcoriaceous leaves resist abrasion in fast‑flowing streams

• Highly prized by specialist collectors for its rarity, compact form, and elegant foliage
• Inflorescence adds subtle decorative interest

Wild Population Status

• Narrow endemic with only two known sites
• Habitat specificity suggests potential vulnerability though no formal IUCN assessment exists

Market Availability

• Extremely rare in cultivation

• Occasionally offered by specialist growers and aroid enthusiasts