Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber, Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a perennial, herbaceous vine that climbs using its roots. Without any support, it will form a thick mount. |
|---|---|
| Roots | The clasping, adventitious roots are borne from the stem nodes and adhere to the surfaces the plant climbs on. |
| Foliage | The leaves are green and oblong-cordate, reaching about 20 cm long and 10 cm wide. The leaf blades are held perpendicular to the petiole (leaf stalk), which can reach over 30 cm long. Extranectary glands can be found at the base of the petioles. |
| Stems | The stems are often contorted, green in young shoots and turning greyish-brown over time. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is a spadix, subtended by a spathe. Flowering in this species has not been observed in Singapore |
| Habitat | The cultivar was purportedly first collected from the rocky coastlines near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
| Associated Fauna | Ants are observed to visit the extranectary glands found on the base of the petioles. |
| Taxonomy | This cultivar 'Burle Marx' is often erroneously treated as the species Philodendron burle-marxii G.M.Barroso. The true P. burle-marxii has narrowly oblong leaf blades that can reach between 34 - 60 cm long by 6 - 8 cm wide and held parallel to the petiole. In comparison, the cultivar 'Burle Marx' has smaller leaves with leaf blades measuring about 20 cm long by 10 cm wide and held perpendicular to the petiole. Another comparison is that P. 'Burle Marx' has a deep sinus while P. burle-marxii has no sinus present. This cultivar is a cultivated form of Philodendron cordatum Kunth ex Schott, having smaller leaves and shorter internodes. |
| Cultivation | It grows well in bright, direct sunlight and shadier conditions, although it may have elongated petioles and stems in darker conditions. It grows well in well-draining, porous media with organic matter. It can be propagated by stem cutting and division. |
| Etymology | The genus Philodendron is derived from Greek philos, "to love" and dendron "tree", meaning "tree-loving"; a reference to the tree-climbing habits of plants from this genus. The cultivar is named in honour of Roberto Burle Marx (1909 - 1994), a Brazilian architect well-known for his use of native plants in his modern landscape designs. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Coastal, Container Planting, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Irritant - Sap, Toxic Upon Ingestion |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | All parts of plant contains calcium oxalate crystals in their sap, causing mouth and throat irritation if ingested, and possible itchiness if in contact with the skin. Keep away from pets and children. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow, Rootbound Conditions, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Pest(s) | Sucking Insects, Chewing Insects |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Cordate, Oblong) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Aboveground (Aerial Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|---|
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30972 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5359 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
