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Phyllotaenium lindenii André

Introduction & Overview

Common and Scientific Names

  • Scientific Name: Phyllotaenium lindenii André
  • Common Name: Angel’s wing, Indian kale, spoonflower, white vein arrow leaf

Quick Facts

  • Origin: Range from Panama to Colombia
  • Features: Evergreen, leathery, sagittate leaves up to 45 cm long with creamy‑white venation on dark green blades; compact habit from a creeping rhizome

Taxonomy & Classification

  • Genus: Phyllotaenium
  • Botanical Background: First described by Édouard André in 1872, the species has undergone multiple illegitimate renamings before recent taxonomic consensus restored its original epithet.

Natural Habitat & Distribution

  • Geographical Range: Wet lowland tropical forests of Panama (Colón, Darién, Guna Yala) and Colombia (Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia), typically below 800 m elevation.
  • Environment: Thrives in humid understory conditions—shaded to semi‑shaded sites, well‑drained acidic soils rich in organic matter, and year‑round high humidity (≥70 %).

Morphological Characteristics

Leaves

  • Arrow‑ or hastate‑shaped, 30–45 cm long, thin leathery texture, dark green with contrasting white veins
  • Petioles rust‑coloured and scurfy beneath

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

  • Solitary spadix (≈10–15 cm) subtended by a narrow lanceolate spathe
  • Blooms are inconspicuous, greenish‑white, monoecious, and short‑lived

Growth Habit

  • Terrestrial evergreen geophyte with a creeping underground rhizome (not seasonally dormant), rooting along its length, exuding red sap when cut

Cultivation & Care

Light Requirements

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

Watering & Humidity

  • Water when top 1/3 of soil dries
  • Keep substrate evenly moist but never waterlogged
  • Maintain high humidity (≥70 %) via grouping or humidifier

Soil & Potting Mix

  • Use a rich, well‑draining mix (peat‑based with perlite)
  • A shallow wide pot supports rhizome growth

Temperature & Fertilizer

  • Ideal range 18–30 °C
  • Feed monthly with balanced houseplant fertilizer during active growth (spring–summer)


Propagation Methods

Division

  • Best by rhizome division: separate tubers with ≥1 eye, let callous for 2–3 days, then plant in fresh media


Seeds

  • Rarely used
  • Propagation is primarily vegetative

Common Pests & Diseases

Typical Issues

  • Susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, thrips
  • Root rot under overwatering
  • Leaf‑spot diseases under poor airflow

Treatment Recommendations

  • Insecticidal soap or neem oil sprays
  • Wipe mealybugs with isopropyl alcohol swabs
  • Improve drainage, reduce humidity at soil level, fungicide for leaf spots

Notable Traits & Uses

  • Named after Belgian horticulturist Jean Jules Linden
  • Cultivar ‘Magnificum’ prized for bold venation
  • Sought by collectors for dramatic foliage
  • Widely used as a statement indoor or shaded outdoor plant

Conservation & Availability

Wild Population Status

  • Not formally assessed by IUCN
  • Habitat loss in native range may pose localized risks

Market Availability

  • Common in horticulture under both accepted and synonymic names
  • ‘Magnificum’ widely sold

References & Resources

Further Reading

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