Anthurium pallatangense Engl.

• Genus: Anthurium
• Botanical Background: Described by Adolf Engler in 1898 in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik 25(3):38

• Geographical Range: Endemic to Ecuador, with type specimens from the Pallatanga region
• Environment: Occurs as an epiphyte in wet tropical biomes, thriving in subtropical or tropical moist montane forests with high humidity and consistent moisture

Leaves

• Simple, alternately arranged, cordate to ovate, glossy
• Coriaceous with reticulate venation, a prominent midrib, and basal veins

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Inflorescences consist of a fleshy spadix bearing numerous tiny bisexual flowers, subtended by a spathe that retracts before anthesis
• Pollination is typically by flies and beetles

Growth Habit

• An epiphytic subshrub with a short creeping stem or rhizome and adventitious roots, lacking true tubers

Light Requirements

• Bright, indirect light

• Avoid direct sun to prevent leaf burn

Watering & Humidity

• Water weekly to maintain even moisture without waterlogging

• Humidity above 60 % is beneficial

Soil & Potting Mix

• Use a well‑draining, coarse medium rich in organic matter, similar to orchid bark mixes

Temperature & Fertilizer

• Ideal range 65–85 °F (18–29 °C)
• Feed every 4–6 weeks with a balanced, water‑soluble or high‑phosphorus fertilizer

Division and Cuttings

• Divide at the rhizome or take stem cuttings with a node

• Root in moist, warm substrate

Seeds

• Germinate slowly on a moist, sterile substrate under warm, humid conditions

Typical Issues

• Mealybugs, aphids, thrips, scale, and spider mites
• Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis) and root rots (Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Phytophthora) are primary diseases

Treatment Recommendations

• Treat pests with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or systemic insecticides
• Manage bacterial blight with copper‑based bactericides and remove infected tissue
• Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot
• Prevent by inspecting new plants, isolating, and ensuring good air circulation and drainage

• The epithet pallatangense refers to its type locality near Pallatanga, Ecuador
• As with other Anthurium, it produces juicy berries that may feed forest birds

• Its compact epiphytic habit and glossy foliage appeal to specialist aroid collectors, though it lacks the showy spathes of some congeners
  

Wild Population Status

• Classified as Near Threatened by IUCN due to habitat loss

Market Availability

• Rare in cultivation

• Zero iNaturalist observations highlighting its low availability