Ovule size

It might be expected that since the pistils of Philodendron are roughly the same size, mostly ranging from 1 to 4 mm long and about 1/2 to 1/3 as wide that the size of the ovules might be smaller in those species which have fewer ovules per locule than they are in those species with larger numbers of ovules per locule. Species of Philodendron with basal and subbasal placentation have an average minimum of 2.19 and average maximum of 3.52 ovules per locule while those with axile placentation have an average minimum of 14.7 and average maximum of 18.74 ovules per locule. Though there are differences in ovule size, the differences are not great. Of 44 species of Philodendron studied which had axile placentation ovule size ranged from 0.1 mm to 2.1 mm long, (average minimum 0.3 mm, average maximum 0.4 mm long). Alternatively, 48 species with basal or subbasal placentation had slightly larger ovules with average minimum length of 0.31 mm and average maximum length of 0.5 mm.