philodendron

philodendron
/fil'euh den"dreuhn/, n.
a tropical American climbing plant belonging to the genus Philodendron, of the arum family, usually having smooth, shiny, evergreen leaves, often used as an ornamental houseplant.
[1875-80; < NL < Gk, n. use of neut. of philódendros fond of trees, in reference to its climbing habit. See PHILO-, -DENDRON]

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Any of about 200 species of climbing herbaceous plants that make up the genus Philodendron in the arum family, native to the New World tropics.

Some are popular indoor foliage plants in colder areas and landscape plants in warmer climates. The leaves are often large and smooth-edged to variously lobed and cut. The inflorescence is seldom produced indoors. Many forms are available in cultivation, foremost among them the common heart-leaf (Philodendron scandens oxycardium). Large varieties include the spade-leaf philodendron (P. domesticum or P. hastatum), with triangular leaves up to 2 ft (60 cm) long, and the selloum philodendron (P. selloum), with deeply cut leaves up to 3 ft (1 m) long.

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▪ plant genus
      approximately 350 species of stout-stemmed, climbing herbs of tropical America, which begin life as vines and then transform into epiphytes (plants that live upon other plants).

      The foliage of philodendrons is usually green but may be coppery, red, or purplish; parallel leaf veins are usually green or sometimes red or white. Shape, size, and texture of the leaves vary considerably, depending on species and maturity of the plant. The fruit is a white to orange berry. Juvenile and adult phases differ, making it almost impossible to identify different species of small plants. Because many young philodendrons are adapted to the low light levels of rainforests, they are popular potted plants for homes and offices.

      Most philodendrons are great climbers, usually growing upward by wrapping their modified roots around the trunks of trees. Once they work their way to the canopy they often transform themselves into epiphytes. Plants with this life strategy are called secondary hemiepiphytes, and they include a similar group of well-known house plants that are sometimes called philodendrons, the monsteras (genus Monstera). Unlike most plants, the seedlings of hemiepiphytes do not grow toward the Sun; instead they grow toward a tree trunk. Once there, they shift to a light-seeking strategy as they climb to the top using modified roots. Eventually the stem dies at the tree base, severing its connection with the soil. A small stem is retained only at the top of the plant. Arriving at the treetop, the philodendron may wander further. If its spot is too shady, it can move to a better location by producing more stem, growing in front while dying behind. If the spot becomes too dry, it can drop new roots to the ground. Unlike most epiphytes, many philodendrons do not die if they fall to the ground. They simply begin their climb upward all over again.

      Many forms of philodendron are available in cultivation, foremost among them being the common heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens oxycardium). The velvet-leaf philodendron (P. scandens micans) has small bronzy-green velvety leaves with reddish undersides. Of moderate size is the fiddle-leaf, or horsehead, philodendron (P. bipennifolium), with fiddle-shaped, large, glossy green leaves up to 15–25 cm (6–10 inches) wide and 45 cm (18 inches) long. Larger types include the spade-leaf philodendron (P. domesticum or P. hastatum), with triangular leaves up to 60 cm (24 inches) long, and the selloum philodendron (P. selloum), with deeply cut leaves up to 1 metre (3 feet) long, both of which are striking plants that require considerable indoor space.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Philodendron — Philodendron …   Wikipédia en Français

  • philodendron — [ filɔdɛ̃drɔ̃ ] n. m. • 1874; gr. philodendros, de philos « ami » et dendron « arbre » ♦ Arbuste des pays tropicaux d Amérique (aracées), à rhizome rampant, à feuilles coriaces, à fleurs en spadice, souvent très odorantes, dont certaines variétés …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • philodendron — 1877, from the Modern Latin genus name (1830), from Gk. philodendron, neuter of philodendros loving trees, from philo loving + dendron tree (see DENDRO (Cf. dendro )). The plant so called because it clings to trees …   Etymology dictionary

  • philodendron — [fil΄ə den′drən] n. [ModL < neut. of Gr philodendros, loving trees < philos, loving + dendron,TREE] 1. any of a genus (Philodendron) of tropical American vines of the arum family, often with leathery, heart shaped leaves, used commonly as a …   English World dictionary

  • Philodendron — (P. Schott.), Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Aroideae Caladieae Philodendreae; Arten in Südamerika; P. grandifolium, in Caraccas, zum Parfümiren des Rauchtabaks benutzt …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Philodéndron — Schott, Gattung der Arazeen, meist kletternde Pflanzen mit oft baumartigen, mit Luftwurzeln besetzten Stengeln und ganzen oder unregelmäßig gelappten großen Blättern. Weit über 100 Arten im tropischen Amerika. P. bipinnatifidum Schott (s. Tafel… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Philodéndron — Schott., Pflanzengattg. der Arazeen, großblättrige, halb kletternde Sträucher mit langen Luftwurzeln, im trop. Amerika; ornamentale Zimmer und Gewächshauspflanzen, z.B. P. pertūsum Kth. (Monstĕra deliciōsa Lieb. [Abb. 1382]), mit gegen 90 cm… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Philodendron — Taxobox name = Philodendrons image width = 250px image caption = Tree Philodendron ( Philodendron bipinnatifidum ) regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Liliopsida ordo = Alismatales familia = Araceae subfamilia = Aroideae tribus =… …   Wikipedia

  • Philodendron —   Philodendron Filode …   Wikipedia Español

  • Philodendron — Philo …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Philodendron — Philodendren Baum Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) Systematik Klasse: Einkeimblättrige (Liliopsida) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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