Phyllotaenium lindenii André

• Genus: Phyllotaenium
• Botanical Background: First described by Édouard André in 1872, the species has undergone multiple illegitimate renamings before recent taxonomic consensus restored its original epithet.

• Geographical Range: Wet lowland tropical forests of Panama (Colón, Darién, Guna Yala) and Colombia (Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia), typically below 800 m elevation.
• Environment: Thrives in humid understory conditions—shaded to semi‑shaded sites, well‑drained acidic soils rich in organic matter, and year‑round high humidity (≥70 %).

Leaves

• Arrow‑ or hastate‑shaped, 30–45 cm long, thin leathery texture, dark green with contrasting white veins
• Petioles rust‑coloured and scurfy beneath

Inflorescence (Spadix & Spathe)

• Solitary spadix (≈10–15 cm) subtended by a narrow lanceolate spathe
• Blooms are inconspicuous, greenish‑white, monoecious, and short‑lived

Growth Habit

• Terrestrial evergreen geophyte with a creeping underground rhizome (not seasonally dormant), rooting along its length, exuding red sap when cut
  

Light Requirements

• Bright, indirect light
• Avoid direct midday sun to prevent scorch

Watering & Humidity

• Water when top 1/3 of soil dries
• Keep substrate evenly moist but never waterlogged
• Maintain high humidity (≥70 %) via grouping or humidifier

Soil & Potting Mix

• Use a rich, well‑draining mix (peat‑based with perlite)
• A shallow wide pot supports rhizome growth

Temperature & Fertilizer

• Ideal range 18–30 °C
• Feed monthly with balanced houseplant fertilizer during active growth (spring–summer)

Division

• Best by rhizome division: separate tubers with ≥1 eye, let callous for 2–3 days, then plant in fresh media

Seeds

• Rarely used
• Propagation is primarily vegetative

Typical Issues

• Susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, thrips
• Root rot under overwatering
• Leaf‑spot diseases under poor airflow

Treatment Recommendations

• Insecticidal soap or neem oil sprays
• Wipe mealybugs with isopropyl alcohol swabs
• Improve drainage, reduce humidity at soil level, fungicide for leaf spots

• Named after Belgian horticulturist Jean Jules Linden
• Cultivar ‘Magnificum’ prized for bold venation

• Sought by collectors for dramatic foliage
• Widely used as a statement indoor or shaded outdoor plant

Wild Population Status

• Not formally assessed by IUCN
• Habitat loss in native range may pose localized risks

Market Availability

• Common in horticulture under both accepted and synonymic names
• ‘Magnificum’ widely sold