Anthurium spathiphyllum N

Anthurium spathiphyllum N. E. Brown,

Gard. Chron. 7:652.1877. TYPE: Origin unknown:Hort. Kew, 8 Nov. 1876, Brown s.n. (K).

Epiphyte; stems ca. 10 cm long, ca. 2 cm diam.; cataphylls drying pale tan, weathering to coarse, longitudinal fibers and persisting; petioles usually triangular, sometimes quadrangular or sharply 3-5-ribbed; blades linear to linear-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, 46-80 cm long, 5.5-12.5 cm wide. Inflorescence spreading; peduncle flattened, 2-4-ribbed, 33-48 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide; spathe coriaceous, green, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, 6.5-8 cm long, 1.7-3 cm wide; spadix pale yellow to creamy white, (1.7-)3÷4 cm long, 0.9-1.1 cm diam. midway; berries unknown. See Croat (1983: 385) for a more complete description.

Anthurium spathiphyllum is known from Nicaragua to Panama from sea level to 380 m on the Atlantic slope in wetter parts of tropical wet forest and in premontane wet and tropical wet forest life zones. One exception is a collection from Costa Rica from a much higher elevation.

Anthurium spathiphyllum is in section Pachyneurium. The species can be recognized by its epiphytic habit, its chartaceous leaves, its usually triangular, sometimes three- to five-ribbed petiole, its lanceolate to broadly lanceolate cucullate spathe, and by its short, scarcely tapered, pale yellow spadix.

Map of Mesoamerican specimens with coordinates

Costa Rica Alajuela: 380 m,, 26 May 1976, Thomas B. Croat 35651 (MO, RSA).
Costa Rica Guanacaste: 1300-1600 m, 10.48.20N 85.17.50W, 8 November 1990, Gerardo Rivera 835 (INB,MO,US).
Costa Rica Heredia: Finca La Selva, 100-150 m,, 6 Jan 1978, Thomas B. Croat 44309 (MO).
Costa Rica Heredia: 1350 m,, 26 May 1976, Thomas B. Croat 35571 (MO).
Costa Rica Heredia: Puerto Viejo Region,, , Burger & Matta 4258 (F). Costa Rica Heredia:, , Grayum & Schatz 644 (CM).
Costa Rica Heredia: Finca La Selva, 100 m,, 15 Feb 1981, Folsom 8950 (CAS).
Costa Rica Heredia: Finca La Selva, 100 m,, , Wilbur & Jacobs 34194 (DUKE).
Costa Rica Heredia: Zona Protectora La Selva, 340 m, 10.21N 84.04W, , Schatz & Grayum 644 (DUKE, MO).
Costa Rica Heredia: 570-700 m,, 19 Apr 1988, Kress et al. 88-2417 (SEL).
Costa Rica Heredia: Estación Biológica La Selva, 50-100 m, 10.26N 84.01W, 16 Oct 1990, Grayum 10010 (MO).
Costa Rica Lim—n: Cerro Coronel, 20-170 m, 10.41N 83.38W, 15-20 Sep 1986, Warren Douglas Stevens 24541 (MO).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 250 m,, , Thomas B. Croat 71838 (MO). Costa Rica Lim—n: 150 m,, 30 March 1978, Ocampos 1906 (MO).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 100 m,, 8 May 1977, Ocampo 1987 (MO).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 40 m, 10.30N 83.47W, 30 Aug 1979, Davidson & Donahue 8954 (MO).
Costa Rica Lim—n: Río Parismina,, , Lent 2444 (F).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 100 m, 10.24N 83.33W, 11 August 1988, Rafael Robles Gerardo Herrera & Luis Flores 2003 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: Parque Nacional Corcovado,, 6 February 1981, Tellez et al. 4248 (MEXU, MO).
Costa Rica San José: P.N. Braulio Carrillo, 600-700 m,, 18 Feb 1983, Chacon 338 (MO). Costa Rica San José: 200 m,, 26-30 April 1977, Ocampo 1625 (CR).
Costa Rica San José: 300 m,, 26-30 April 1977, Ocampo 1624 (CR).
Nicaragua Río San Juan: 120 m, 11.01N 084.14W, 4 Enero 1997, Ricardo Rueda, Indiana Coronado, Oscar Aráuz & Franklin Flores 5378 (MO).
Nicaragua Zelaya: 8-10 m, 13.29N 84.13W, 26 Apr. 1978, W.D. Stevens 8255 (MO).
Nicaragua Zelaya: Kururia, 50 m, 14.41N 84.4W, 3 March 1979, Pipoly 3968 (MO).
Nicaragua Zelaya: 200 m, 14.39N 84.04W, 2 March 1979, J. Pipoly 3830 (MO).
Nicaragua Zelaya: 200 m, 14.39N 84.04W, 2 March 1979, J. Pipoly 3743 (MO).
Nicaragua Zelaya: 50-100 m, 13.58N 84.12W, 30 Apr. 1978, W.D. Stevens 8504 (MO).
Nicaragua Zelaya: Risco de Oro, 40 m,, 22 Mar. 1979, Pipoly, J. 5021 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro:, 26 July 1971, Croat & Porter 16276 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro:, , Blum 1403 (FSU, SCZ). Panama Bocas del Toro:, , Kennedy 1273 (DUKE).
Panama CoclŽ:, 11 Apr. 1969, Lewis et al. 5569 (MO).

Map of South American Specimens with coordinates

Ecuador Esmeraldas: Bilsa, 400-600 m, 00.21N 79.44W, 20 May 1995, John L. Clark & Clare Watt 949 (QCNE, MO).