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  Philodendron x evansii/feral Aroids in the U.S.A.
From: ju-bo at msn.com (ju-bo at msn.com) on 2008.07.04 at 13:06:20(18067)
________________________________
> Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 07:43:33 -0700
> From: kalim1998 at yahoo.com
> To: aroid-l at gizmoworks.com
> Subject: [Aroid-l] Origins of Philodendron x evansii

Dear Arlan,

Good to see you on aroid-l again!
I`m certain that Ron Weeks, Russ Hammer, ESPECIALLY John Banta, and Steve Lucas may be able to add information about the history of this Meconostigma Philodendron hybrid, and of Mr. Bill Evans, it`s creator. We have had several discussions about this Philo. hybrid.
It is surmised that Mr. Evans may have used P. bipinnatifidium crossed to P. speciosum as the parents of P. x evansii, but this is not known for certain, it may have been P. mello-barettoanum instead of P. bipinnatifidium. We also do not know which species was used as the seed parent, and which one as the pollen parent. Also bear in mind that what is presently being called P. speciosum just may eventually be determined to consist of several distinct species, as the plants being called P. speciosum certainly present a broad range of sizes and leaf blade shapes! (to me that is!) We do not know which one (if any) of these were used by Mr. Evans.
What I can add is that no species of Philodendron has established itself as a feral plant (escaped from cultivation) as a self sustaining species, as the pollinators (small scrab beetles) are not present, so sexual reproduction in the U.S.A. is not known to take place except by hand pollination. There are a few plants of climbing Philodendron sps. I sometimes see on a tree, most appear to have originated from trash thrown out and which somehow survive and climb and multiply vegetativly, but I have never seen a sizable colony of any Philodendron sp. anywhere, and certainly no Meconostigmas. The closest to this is a report I received of a large group of a smaller Meconostigma hybrid which might be a P. corcovadense X P. speciosum or P. paludicola cross. This large group of plants, all from vegetative divisions, was reportedly covering the base of a BIG Cypress tree in W. Florida. I have a plant from this colony, and it likes to scramle and climb (like P. corcovadense), and produces off-shoots quite re
adly. A friend also told me of a no-longer existing ''hedge'' in the S. Miami area which consisted of a smaller Meconostigma Philodendron which was seemingly close to this one.
Syngonium podophyllum (and possibly other species of Syngonium) have become established as a reproducing feral and invasive pest aroid species in S. Florida, the pollinators of this are PROBABLY fruit flies, and I have collected viable fruit and seed in a lot of areas of S. Florida, and the juicy fruit and large black seeds are probably distributed by native birds.
Colocasia sp. and Xanthosoma sp. can be seen as invasive, VERY abundant plants in many areas of Florida, Colocasia more so than Xanthosoma. These colonies are all from vegetative reproduction/spread. All probably originated from discarded food leftovers consisting of peelings thrown out as trash, or plants put out by homeowners. No sexual reproduction/seed production has not been observed in these two genera, though blooms have been observed on both, which might result in seed production at some point.
Large feral plants/colonies of Xanthosoma robustum (6'-8'+) might be mistaked for P. x evansii??

The Best,

Julius

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From: kalim1998 at yahoo.com (a san juan) on 2008.07.05 at 02:42:30(18075)
Wow, great info Julius! Yeah, the? fact that these aroids depend on non-existent pollinators certainly puts a damper on feral colonies escaping into the suburban landscape, although it would be cool to see Philos like this climbing the occassional building, to the horror of its occupants...

--- On Fri, 7/4/08, ju-bo at msn.com wrote:
From: ju-bo at msn.com

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From: leu242 at yahoo.com (Eric Schmidt) on 2008.07.07 at 20:54:50(18102)
Interestingly, an aroid that has started seeding here
is Alocasia 'Calidora'. The last couple of years I
have been finding some stray seedlings near where we
have this planted. Nothing of an invasive nature.
Also, Monstera deliciosa seedlings have been showing
up, too.

Philodendron x evansii is used infrequently. Most of
the time you see it, it was probably planted in the
late 1960's or 70's. I never see it used anymore. A
few years ago a few SoFL wholesale nurseries had it
again but then disappeared. One was also growing
Philodendron 'Soledad' which is similar. Don't know
the parentage but I think it was developed by Rancho
Soledad Nursery.

http://tinyurl.com/5u7scg

Eric

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From: ju-bo at msn.com (ju-bo at msn.com) on 2008.07.09 at 00:24:03(18119)
----------------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 13:54:50 -0700
> From: leu242 at yahoo.com
> To: aroid-l at gizmoworks.com
> Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Philodendron x evansii/feral Aroids in the U.S.A.

Dear Eric,

Thanks for reminding me about some Alocasia sps. which indeed do produce fruit around these parts! I have seen A. macrorrhizos and A. odura with ripe red fruit from either self or possibly fruit fly pollination, as well as Monstera deliciosa. My plant of this is in fact from a seedling I collected from under the late Jim Enck`s plant, and mine often produces a seedling or two where ripe fruit fall.
I agree on your thoughts concerning P. X evansii, all the specimens I have encountered ar from the 60`s or thereabouts.
The Best,

Julius

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