Anthurium ramonense Engl. ex K.Krause

• Genus: Anthurium
• Botanical Background: First validly published by Kurt Krause in 1932 in Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem (vol. 11: 611), based on Adolf Engler’s earlier work on neotropical Araceae.

• Geographical Range: Occurs from Nicaragua southward through Costa Rica and Panamá into western Colombia, primarily on the Atlantic slope but also near the Continental Divide on the Pacific side.
• Environment: Grows as an epiphyte in wet tropical and premontane rain forests, including lower montane wet zones. Prefers high humidity, stable moisture in canopy debris, and well‑draining organic substrates.

Leaves

• Erect‑spreading, leathery blades elliptic to broadly elliptic
• Petioles 4–17 cm long, subterete and narrowly sulcate; geniculum 1.5–2 cm
• Glossy, deep green surface typical of many Anthurium species

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Inflorescences pendulous, with a slender spadix bearing spirally arranged flowers (4–5 mm long, 3–3.5 mm wide)
• Spadix may reach up to 48 cm; spathe typically small and greenish, not showy
• Pollinated by small insects attracted to subtle floral cues

Growth Habit

• Epiphytic subshrub with short stems and persistent fibrous cataphylls at leaf bases
  
• No true tubers, roots form dense masses that cling to host surfaces

Light Requirements

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

Watering & Humidity

• Keep medium consistently moist but not waterlogged
• Maintain humidity at or above 60 %

Soil & Potting Mix

• A well‑drainingmix rich in organic matter (bark, peat, perlite)
• Containers with drainage holes are essential

Temperature & Fertilizer

• Optimal range 18–27 °C (65–80 °F)
• Feed monthly during active growth with a balanced, diluted fertilizer

Division & Cuttings

• Separate rooted clumps at repotting
• Take stem cuttings with at least one node and root in high‑humidity conditions

Seeds

• Best sown fresh within 1–2 weeks of harvest, as viability declines rapidly
• Germinate on a moist medium (e.g., milled moss with perlite) at ~22–26 °C
• Expect sprouts in 4–8 weeks

Typical Issues

• Mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale, and thrips on foliage
• Root rot pathogens under poor drainage

Treatment Recommendations

• Insecticidal soap or neem oil sprays for foliar pests
• Reduce watering frequency and consider a hydrogen peroxide soil drench
• Ensure fast‑draining substrate

• Engler noted its close affinity with A. filiforme of Colombia
• As a canopy epiphyte, it contributes to moisture capture and microhabitat formation in wet forests

• Rare in cultivation
• Prized for its slender, arching leaves and long, pendulous inflorescences

Wild Population Status

• Habitat loss in lowland forests may pose future risks
• Listed as “Not Evaluated” in World Flora Online

Market Availability

• Seldom offered by commercial nurseries
• Occasionally found through specialty aroid growers or botanical exchanges