Anthurium parambae Sodiro

• Genus: Anthurium
• Botanical Background: Described by Luis Sodiro (1836–1909), an Italian Jesuit botanist noted for cataloguing over 280 Ecuadorian Araceae taxa.

• Geographical Range: Endemic to Ecuador, where it occurs in lowland to mid-elevation wet tropical forests.
• Environment: Thrives in shaded, humid understories either on tree trunks as an epiphyte or in humus-rich soil. Annual rainfall is high and temperatures are stable, typically 18–25 °C.

Leaves

• Simple, entire, coriaceous blades
• Ovate to elliptic, up to 20 cm long and 8 cm wide
• With 5–7 pairs of parallel lateral veins and a glossy surface

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Cylindrical pale green spadix (3–5 cm long) bearing tiny protogynous flowers
• Subtended by a small greenish-white spathe
• Pollination is insect‑mediated

Growth Habit

• Subshrub with a short erect stem and creeping rhizome
• Lacks distinct tubers and may be terrestrial or epiphytic

Light Requirements

• Bright, indirect light
• Avoid direct sun to prevent leaf scorch

Watering & Humidity

• Keep growing medium evenly moist but not waterlogged
• Maintain high humidity (70 % or above)

Soil & Potting Mix

• A well‑draining, airy mix (e.g., orchid bark, perlite, peat moss or coconut coir) to mimic epiphytic conditions

Temperature & Fertilizer

• Ideal range 18–25 °C
• Feed monthly during active growth with a balanced, diluted fertilizer

Division & Cuttings

• Divide established clumps at the rhizome, ensuring each section has aerial roots
• Stem cuttings with at least one node can also root in moist medium

Seeds

• Fruits are fleshy berries containing seeds
• Sow fresh in sterile, moist medium; germination may take 4–6 weeks under warm, humid conditions

Typical Issues

• Mealybugs, spider mites, aphids
• Root rot from overwatering

Treatment Recommendations

• Insecticidal soap or neem oil applications
• Improve drainage, reduce watering, and apply fungicide if needed

• Named for the Paramba region in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador
• Part of a diverse aroid flora that contributes to rainforest ecology

• Rarely cultivated
• Valued by specialist collectors for its ecological significance rather than showy flowers

Wild Population Status

• Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN due to insufficient data on its distribution and population trends
• Threatened by ongoing habitat loss in Ecuador
  

Market Availability

• Not commonly available in trade
• Found primarily in research or botanical collections