Amydrium zippelianum

Botanical identity and natural origin of Amydrium zippelianum

Amydrium zippelianum is native to the Philippines, Sulawesi, the Maluku Islands and New Guinea. It grows in tropical forest from the lowlands to about 2,200 m above sea level and also occurs in disturbed forest and plantations.

You may also encounter the older name Amydrium magnificum in plant books and collections; it refers to the same species now known as A. zippelianum.

Indoor care for Amydrium zippelianum

• Support: Give the plant a strong climbing surface. A moss-covered pole gives the roots along the stem something to grip.
• Repotting: Repot into a slightly larger, stable pot when roots crowd the container or the support starts to wobble. Keep the vine attached to its support while moving it.
• Light and warmth: Keep it warm in bright, filtered light.
• Watering: Check the surface between waterings; once it begins to dry, give the mix a thorough soak and allow the pot to drain. Keep the mix lightly moist while new leaves are forming.
• Potting mix: Use an open, chunky mix with good drainage that still holds some moisture.
• Humidity and airflow: Humid air helps the large leaves open smoothly. Leave some space around the newest leaves and the support so moisture dries normally.
• Propagation: Cut mature stems into sections that already have healthy roots and pot each section separately in a warm, airy mix.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while new leaves and roots are growing, using the dose on the fertiliser label.

Amydrium zippelianum issues

• A plant that was climbing well suddenly produces much smaller leaves: If the vine comes loose from its support, the leaves can become smaller. Poor light or root problems can also reduce leaf size. Fasten the vine back to the support, check that the roots feel firm and keep it in bright filtered light.
• Leaf edges turn dry and brown: Brown, crisp edges can follow uneven watering or a build-up of fertiliser salts in the potting mix. Check whether the mix has been drying deeply between waterings. If white deposits are visible, flush the pot thoroughly with clean water.
• Bleached or whitened areas appear on the upper leaf surface: Sunburn has damaged the exposed area. Move the plant into bright filtered light and give the broad leaves enough space to unfold freely.
• The plant wilts while the mix is wet and the roots are brown, black or mushy: Root rot is preventing normal water uptake. Unpot the plant, remove soft rotten roots with a clean, disinfected tool, cut back to firm healthy tissue, discard the removed rot and repot in fresh airy substrate.
• Fine speckles, webbing, cottony insects or sticky bumps appear around veins and stem joints: Check the leaves and stems for sap-sucking pests. Keep the plant separate and remove visible insects. If pests return, use a houseplant treatment labelled for them. Wait until the label says another treatment is due.

Amydrium zippelianum is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Who first published Amydrium zippelianum, and what does the name mean?

Amydrium comes from Greek amydron, meaning dark, indistinct or obscure. Amydrium zippelianum honours Alexander Zippelius.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Amydrium in 1863 in Annales Musei Botanici Lugduno-Batavi, volume 1, page 127.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott first described it as Rhaphidophora zippeliana in 1863 in Annales Musei Botanici Lugduno-Batavi, volume 1, page 129. Dan Henry Nicolson later placed it in Amydrium as Amydrium zippelianum in 1968 in Blumea, volume 16, page 126.