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Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Philodendreae
Genus: Thaumatophyllum
Schott 1832
Synonyms[1]
  • Philodendron subg. Meconostigma

Thaumatophyllum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. There are currently 21 accepted species;[2] In the past, this group of plants has been included inside the genus Philodendron as Philodendron subgenus Meconostigma. They've also been referred to as the "tree Philodendrons" or "trunk-forming Philodendrons". The most well known of the species is Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, formerly know as Philodendron bipinnatifidum or Philodendron selloum.

Description edit

Growth habit edit

 
A leaf of Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum

Like the closely related Philodendrons, Thaumatophyllum vary widely in their habits of growth. Some are hemiepiphytic, growing on other trees but sending long, stabilizing roots down to the ground. Others can be terrestrial, aquatic, or even rupicolous (growing among rocks). The most notable feature dividing them from Philodendron is their arborescent, or tree-like trunk.


Leaves edit

The leaves are usually large and imposing, often lobed or deeply cut, and may be more or less pinnate. They can also be in many other possible shape variations. The leaves are borne alternately on the stem. As with Philodendrons, they do not have just one single type of leaf on the same plant. Instead, they have juvenile leaves and adult leaves, which can be drastically different from one another. The leaves of seedlings are usually heart-shaped. Early in the life of the plant, but after it has matured past the seedling stage, the leaves will have acquired the typical juvenile leaf's shape and size. Later in life, it starts producing adult leaves, a process called metamorphosis.[3] Most philodendrons go through metamorphosis gradually; there is no immediately distinct difference between juvenile and adult leaves.[4] Aside from being typically much bigger than the juvenile leaves, the shape of adult leaves can be significantly different. In fact, considerable taxonomic difficulty has occurred in the past due to these differences, causing juvenile and adult plants to mistakenly be classified as different species. The trigger for the transformation to adult leaves can vary considerably. One possible trigger is the height of the plant.


Roots edit

 
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum aerial roots

Philodendrons have both aerial and subterranean roots. Aerial roots allow the plant to attach itself to another tree or plant, they add stability for the large leaves, and they also allow it to collect water and nutrients.


Fruit edit

Botanically, the fruit produced is a berry.[5]

Taxonomy edit

Thaumatophyllum were originally described in 1832 by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott as a distinct genus, but they were later thought to instead be a subgenus included inside Philodendron. They stayed that way throughout much of the 20th century as Philodendron subg. Meconostigma. In 2018, in a comprehensive study by Sakuragui et al., they were established once again as a completely distinct genus from Philodendron, and so were returned to their original correct name of Thaumatophyllum.


Accepted species edit

The 21 currently accepted species are:

Distribution edit

Philodendron species can be found in many diverse habitats in the tropical Americas and the West Indies.[6] Most occur in humid tropical forests, but can also be found in swamps and on river banks, roadsides and rock outcrops. They are also found throughout the diverse range of elevations from sea level to over 2000 m above sea level.[7][8] Species of this genus are often found clambering over other plants, or climbing the trunks of trees with the aid of aerial roots. Philodendrons usually distinguish themselves in their environment by their large numbers compared to other plants, making them a highly noticeable component of the ecosystems in which they are found. They are found in great numbers in road clearings.[citation needed]

Philodendrons can also be found in Australia, some Pacific islands, Africa and Asia, although they are not indigenous and were introduced or accidentally escaped.[9]


Notes edit

  1. ^ Plants of the World Online
  2. ^ "Thaumatophyllum". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. ^ Ray 1990, pp. 1599–1609
  4. ^ Bell & Bryan 2008, p. 26
  5. ^ Gonçalves 1997, p. 500
  6. ^ Gonçalves & Mayo 2000, p. 483
  7. ^ Croat & Yu 2006, p. 892
  8. ^ Croat, Mora & Kirkman 2007, p. 322
  9. ^ Foxcroft, Richardson & Wilson 2008, p. 44

References edit

External links edit

Category:Araceae genera Category:Epiphytes Category:Low light plants

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