Notes on Phyllotaenium André (Araceae—Caladieae)

Alistair Hay

 

ABSTRACT

The history and nomenclature of the Panamanian and Colombian genus Phyllotaenium, its only currently recognised species P. lindenii André, and its synonyms, are outlined. It is pointed out that Caladium lindenii (André) Madison, by which name the species is currently most widely known, is illegitimate, owing to the much earlier validation of Caladium lindenii F.F.Stange, a probable synonym of C. bicolor (Aiton) Vent. Xanthosoma lindenii (André) Engl., by which name and authority the plant was widely known until 1981, is also illegitimate due to the earlier validation of X. lindenii T.Moore independent of P. lindenii (all three names pertaining to the same species). Morphological reasons are outlined for why Phyllotaenium lindenii is neither a Caladium nor a Xanthosoma, and molecular-phylogenetic findings, which support its reinstatement as Phyllotaenium, are summarised. It is tentatively noted that phenotypic variation correlated with geography may suggest three taxa, in particular that the well known pale-veined form of horticulture (var. lindenii) is currently only known in nature from Antioquia east of Medellín in the western Middle Magdalena Valley, while the nonvariegated aspect, the here newly combined var. sylvestre (Grayum) A.Hay, is predominantly Chocoan. It is suggested that Xanthosoma alversonii Croat & Delannay, also from Antioquia but there disjunct from var. lindenii, may represent a third element in Phyllotaenium. The lack of detailed, accurate description of floral structures, and the need for comparative study of living plants in flower and fruit from across the range, are highlighted. The name of the Australian, chimaeric-variegated cultivar Phyllotaenium lindenii ‘Cream Cheese’ is established.