THE AROID COLLECTIONS AT THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN

THOMAS B. CROAT

Missouri Botanical Garden, 2345 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis MO 63110

The Missouri Botanical Gar­ The scientific work at the den, which first opened its gates to Missouri Botanical Garden empha­ the public in 1859, is the second sizes floristic studies and mono­ oldest botanical garden in the graphic (revisionary) studies of United States, the oldest having tropical families in tropical been founded by John Bartram in America and Africa. A significant Philadelphia early in the 18th cen­ percentage of its systematists are tury. Located on more than 70 involved in field work at any time. acres in the heart of St. Louis, it Currently projects are underway in features a large Japanese garden, a , Nicaragua, Colombia climatically controlled geodesic (Choc6), Peru, Venezuela, New dome for tropical and num­ Caledonia, South Africa and the erous other indoor and outdoor dis­ Middle East. These projects add plays. The Garden, long associated significantly to the scientific col­ with Washington University, and lections of aroids at the Garden. more recently with St. Louis Uni­ The collection: of dried herbarium versity, the University of Missouri material at the Missouri Botanical and Southern Illinois University, Garden is perhaps the largest in has been involved in the training of the world. Though no exact count many botanists. Its library with has been made of the entire collec­ more than 65,000 volumes and its tion, it consists of the equivalent of herbarium of about 3 million spec­ 20 full standard herbarium cases imens play an important role in with about 50% of the collection systematic botany and horticulture. having been made in the past 15 The Garden's long involve­ years principally in the more in­ ment in tropical America with an teresting parts of the American active staff of tropical field botan­ tropics. The Anthurium (the ists has provided the institution only one accurately counted) con­ with rich aroid collections. The tains more than 5,400 specimens bulk of the older living accessions (not counting photos) as of May still in existence were acquired by 1979. While it's not possible to George Pring and Ladislaus Cutak directly compare this number of during trips to Central and South collections with other large col­ America. Also important were trips lections such as those of the New made by Dr. George Bunting, a York Botanical Garden, or the staff member at the Missouri Smithsonian Institution, it can be Botanical Garden during the early compared rather well with the col­ 1960's. lection at the Field Museum and at

99 100 AROIDEANA [Vol 2.

the Kew Herbarium. The Field doors at the Garden and other in­ Museum has by my count approxi­ troduced temperate genera such as mately 3300 collection of Anthur­ Calla, Pinellia, and Symplocarpus ium and the Kew Herbarium has are also displayed. Even the genus an estimated 3,600 specimens in all Arisarum from the Mediterranean genera (Simon Mayo, personal com­ region has proven capable of sur­ munication). The Anthurium col­ viving the recent severe winters in lection at Kew, which is possibly outdoor gardens such as in the new one of the most completely repre­ English Woodland Garden. sented at Kew, consists of approxi­ Research collections are mately 1,400 collections. On the housed in a greenhouse of 3,450 other hand, Kew and the Field square feet with a southern expo­ Museum as well as all of the other sure. It is fitted with permanent herbaria mentioned above, still have shadecloth and automatic humidity a larger collection of type material control. The center of the green­ than the Missouri Botanical Gar­ house has tiered metal benches and den. The Kew Herbarium has, for the north wall is of rough poured example, approximately 160 type concrete with an attached wire specimens of Anthurium alone. The trellis for growing climbing genera number of type specimens at the such as Philodendron, Syngonium Missouri Botanical Garden is, how­ and . Since the wall is ever, increasing rapidly. almost 25 feet high, it is hoped The Garden's display collec­ that even genera like Syngonium tion of live tropical aroids is and Monstera which must grow to housed in the Climatron among a considerable height before flower­ more than one-half acre of plant­ ing will be able to grow to matur­ ings in a natural tropical setting. ity. The aroid collection includes large, The research aroids, which I well established , including have mostly collected during the the rare Philodendron subincism past three years, consist of more Schott, recollected by George Bunt­ than 2,000 collections in 27 genera. ing in a century after it was The collections are largely from first described from a Karwinsky Mexico, Central America and Pana­ collection of unknown origin. Some ma, though with many also from of the bird's nest Anthurium col­ northern South America. Most well lections (section Pachyneurium) represented are Anthurium with stand about 2 meters tall. A huge 1,617 collections representing ca. old collection of Monstera deliciosa 170 species, Philodendron (333 covers a rock wall featuring a 10 collections), Dieffenbachia (92 foot waterfall. Plans are being made collections), Syngonium (73 collec­ to greatly improve the aroid collec­ tions), Spathiphyllum (48 collec­ tions in the Climatron by supple­ tions), Stenospermation (22 col­ menting aroid collections from my lections), and Xanthosoma (41). research collections when active Also represented are collections of work with any group has been com­ Aglaonema, Alocasia, Amorpho­ pleted. A good collection of native phallus, Arisaema, Asterostigma, temperate aroids, including Arisae­ Caladium, Co locasia, Culcasia, ma and Peltandra, are grown out of , Dracontium, Epi- 1979] CROA T : MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 101

Figures 1-4: A large individual of Monstera deliciosa trailing over waterfall in the Clima­ tron. 2. Philodendron subincisum in Climatron. 3. A steep bank in the Climatron sup­ porting Philodendron gloriosum (front), Anthurium schlechtendalii (center left) and Anthurium formosum (top). 4. Aroid Research House showing the juvenile leaves of a species of Philodendron whose adult leaves may become more than 1m long. 102 AROIDEANA [Vol 2.

premnum, Holochlamys, Homalo­ ium. The latter have generally mena, Montrichardia, Rhaphidoph­ thick, cordate blades, and have per­ ora, Rhodospatha, Schismatoglot­ sistent, thick cataphylls which re­ tis, Urospatha and Zantedeschia. main intact, such as Anthurium Virtually all of the material fraternum, A. nymphiifolium, etc. is vouchered with dried herbarium Additional research projects collections and only a small per­ with aroids include a revision of centage is of unknown origin. the for the Flora of Ecua­ Although much research with dor, the Flora of Nicaragua, the Araceae is carried out in the aroid Flora of Chiapas, the Flora Cos­ greenhouse, many collections are taricensis and the Flora of Vera removed to my office where more Cruz. detailed studies are carried out. For the purposes of obtaining At anyone time, there are between material for my revision of Anthur­ 30 and 50 different species flower­ ium, I am particularly anxious to ing in my office, where daily phe­ obtain more collections from South nological observations are carried America and would like to obtain out and where descriptions are pre­ live plants through exchange or pur­ pared. chase. Anyone wishing to see the Current research on aroids at research collections at the Missouri the Missouri Botanical Garden is Botanical Garden should contact concentrated on a revision of An­ me in advance. Anyone with South thurium. Field work during the American species of Anthurium past two years has been in Central wishing to exchange plants may America and a revision of the genus consult the appendix for a list of Anthurium for Central America will the species growing in my research be finished in about one year. A re­ collection and contact me to see vision of the genus Anthurium for what is available for exchange. The Costa Rica, done with Richard species name followed by "Croat & Baker, is now finished and will be Baker" and those followed by published soon in Brenesia. That "Croat" are to be published soon. treatment contains 71 species, in­ Those followed by "sp. nov. ined." cluding 23 new species. A revision are in various stages of completion of Syngonium is nearing comple­ and some may turn out to be spe­ tion. That revision will include cies which are already described, so more than 30 species of which 8 the names in the list are subject to species are new to science. change and should not be con­ Future work with aroids will sidered final until such time as they concentrate on further revisionary appear in print. Other distinct spe­ work with Anthurium in South cies are present in the collection, America. Particular emphasis is now especially those originating from being placed on revisions of An­ South America which have not thurium sections Pachyneurium yet been named and are thus not in­ (bird's nest type) and Calomystr- cluded in the list. 1979] CROAT: MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 103

Figures 5 & 6: 5. Anthurium jenmanii growing beneath a screw pine in the Climatron. 6. Anthurium formosum in the Climatron. 104 AROIDEANA [Vol 2.

Figures 7-8. 7. View of the outside of the Climatron where most display aroids are housed. 8. Aroid Research House: Anthurium species (left row), Philodendron and mis­ cellaneous genera (center row), terrestrial genera and climbers (right and on wall). 1979] CROAT: MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 105

.,,* '- Figures 9-10. 9. Anthurium section Calomystrium area (right) and propagation misting chambers (left). 10. Propagating misting chambers in Aroid Reserach House showing plants placed in Perlite for root production (a timer controls the degree of misting and opening or closing of windows controls the degree of air movement in the chamber). 106 AROIDEANA [Vol 2.

Figures 11-12. 11. View of office with Anthurium species being observed and described. 12. Anthurium collections in office (cards attached to pots contain regular notes on phenology). 1979] CROAT: MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 107

LIST OF ANTHURIUM SPECIES A. crassiradix sp. nov. ined. GROWING IN RESEARCH A. crena tum (L.) Kunth COLLECTIONS AT MISSOURI A. cubense Engler BOTANICAL GARDEN A. curvispadix sp. nov. ined. A. cuspidatum Masters Anthurium acutangulum Engler A. dolichostachyum Sodiro A. acutifolium Engler A. dominicense Schott A. affine Schott A. dre$sleri Croat A. amethystinum Croat & Baker A. dwyeri Croat A. andicola Liebm. *A. effusalobum sp. nov. ined. *A . andreanum Linden A. fatoense Karuse Krause A. amnicola Dressler A. flexile Schott A. angustilaminatum Engler A. folsomii sp. nov. ined. A. angustispadix Croat & Baker A. formosum Schott A. arcuatum sp. nov. ined. A. friedrichsthalii Schott A. armeniense sp. nov. ined. A. fusiforme sp. nov. ined. A. austin-smithii Croat & Baker A. gracile (Rudge) Lindl. A. bakeri Hook. f. A. gualeanum Engler A. beltanium Standley & Wins. A. guildingii Schott A. berriozabalense Matuda *A. hacumense Engler A. binervia sp. nov. ined. A. halmoorei sp. nov. ined. A. bredemeyeri Schott A. hammelii sp. nov. ined. A. brenesii Croat & Baker A. harrisii (Grah.) Endl. A. brentberlinii sp. nov. ined. A. hebetatum sp. nov. ined. A. bristanii Croat A. helleboriforum Schott A. brownii Masters A . hoffmannii Schott A. burgeri Croat & Baker A. huatlense Matuda A. calvariense sp. nov. ined. A. huixtlense Matuda A. canasas Croat A. hylaeum Sodiro A. caperatum Croat & Baker A. interruptum Sodiro A. cerrocampanense Croat A. jefense sp. nov. ined. A. cerropelonense Matuda A. kamamotoanum sp. nov. ined. A. cerropirrei sp. nov. ined. A. kirkbridei sp. nov. ined. A. chamulense Matuda A. kruseanum Matuda A. chiapasense Matuda A. kunthii P & E A. cinereopetiolatum Croat A. lancetillense sp. nov. ined. A. circinnatum Croat A. lancifolium Schott A. clarinervium Matuda A. lentii Croat & Baker A. clavatum Croat & Baker A. leonianum Sodiro A. clavigerum P & E *A. leuconeurum Lem. A. cocleense Croat A. leucostachyum Sodiro A. colonense sp. nov. ined. A. lezamae Matuda A. colonicum Krause A. lindenianum C. Koch & A. colorado-ritense sp. nov. ined. Augustin A. concinnatum Schott A. longipeltatum Matuda A. concolor Krause A. lucens Standley ex Yuncker A. consobrinum Schott A. luteynii Croat A. co to brusii Croat & Baker A. melanolaminum sp. nov. ined. A. crassinervium (Jacq.) Schott A. microspadix Schott

*Note: From a cultivated source-exact collecting location of original collection unknown. 108 AROIDEANA [Vol 2.

A . molinae sp. nov. ined. A . salviniae Helmsley A. montanum Hemsley A. santafeense Croat A. monteverdense Croat & Baker A. scan dens (AubI.) EngI. A. nakamurae Matuda A. scandens var. pusillum Sheffer A. nymphiifolium C. Koch & A. scherzerianum Schott Bouche A. schlechtendalii Kunth A. obtusilobum Schott A. schlechtendalii Kunth ssp. A. ochranthum Schott jimenizii (Matuda) Croat A. oerstedianum Schott A. schottianum Croat & Baker A. pageanum sp. nov. ined. A. seibertii Croat & Baker A. paludosum Engler A . seleri Engler A. panduriforme Schott *A. selloum C. Koch A. pedato-radiatum Schott A. siltepecanum sp. nov. ined. A. pentaphyllum var. bombaci­ A. silvigaudens Stand. & Steyer folium (Schott) Madison A . spathiphyllum N. E. Brown *A pentaphyllum (AubI.) G. Don A. spectabile Schott var. pentaphyllum A. standleyi Croat & Baker A. pirrense sp. nov. ined. A . subcordatum Schott A. pittieri EngI. A. subovatum Matuda A. pluricostatum Croat & Baker A. subsignatum Schott A. podophyllum (Cham. et A. tenerum Engler Schlechtd.) Kunth A. terreyae Standley & L. o. *A. polyschistum R. E. Schultes Williams & Idrobo A. tilaranense Standley A. prolatum Croat & Baker A . titanium Standley & Steyermark A. pseudoranchoanum sp. nov. A. tonduzii Engler ined. A. trinerve Miq. A . pseudoroseospadix sp. nov. A. umbrosum Liebm. ined. A. upalaense Croat & Baker A. purpureospathum Croat A. ut/eyi Croat & Baker A. ramonense Engler ex Krause A. valeense Croat A. ranchoanum Engler A. validifolium Krause A. ravenii Croat & Baker A. verapazense Engler A. roseospadix sp. nov. ined. A . vera-santos sp. nov. ined. A . rotundistigmum Croat A. warocqueanum J. Moore A. rzedowskii sp. nov. ined. A. watermaliense Hort ex Bailey A. sagawaense sp. nov. ined. A. wendlingeri Barroso A. salvadorense Croat A. williamsii Krause