P. ser. Fibricataphylla ser. nov.

TYPE: P. jodavisianum G.S. Bunting

Internodia brevia, cataphylla persistentia ut fibrae; petiolus plerumque teres aut subteres; lamina ovato-cordata; pistilla cum placentatione axiali; loculi pluriovulati.

Etymology: Fibra= fibers; cataphylla = cataphylls, in reference to the cataphylls persisting as fibers.

This represents the largest series in P. subsect. Philodendron. It is characterized by species with thick stems, short internodes, cataphylls which usually persist as a mass of fibers on the stem, usually subterete petioles, and more or less ovate-cordate blades. Pistils have axile placentation and many ovules per locule.

The following species of P. ser. Fibricataphylla occur in Central America: P. alticola, P. antonioanum, P. breedlovei, P. chiriquiense, P. dodsonii, P. grandipes, P. jodavisianum, P. lazorii, P. llanoense, P. panamense, P. pirrense, P. purulhaense, P. scalarinerve, P. schottianum, and P. tenue. Of these a few are still doubtful. Philodendron grandipes with a D-shaped petiole and P. jodavisianum with a U-shaped petiole perhaps belong in P. subsect. Platypodium but also do not seem to be related to the species in that group. Philodendron breedlovei which appears to lack persistent cataphylls (specimen very incomplete) is at odds with the other species but fits nowhere else. A few species are in related clusters within the series, for example, P. lazorii and P. panamense seem to be closely related as do P. grandipes and P. jodavisianum.

Grayum (pers. comm.) believes that P. dodsonii perhaps belongs with P. pterotum in P. subsect. Platypodium.