Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii

Origin of Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii

This cultivated hybrid combines Anthurium forgetii with an unresolved parent sold provisionally as Anthurium besseae aff. The abbreviation “aff.” marks a provisional association with A. besseae; the first parent’s exact identity remains uncertain.

Anthurium besseae is an epiphyte from Bolivian wet tropical forest. A. forgetii is native to Colombia, where it also grows in wet tropical forest.

Care for Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii

• Use bright filtered light: Shield the plant from hot midday sun and heat trapped behind glass. Rotate the pot gradually when growth begins leaning strongly towards one side.
• Temperature and humidity: Steady warmth around 18–27 °C suits the plant; sustained temperatures under 15 °C are too cool. Keep humidity at 60–80% with gentle air movement.
• Keep the root ball lightly moist and airy: Water when the upper layer begins to dry, wet the mix evenly and let all excess drain. Do not allow the entire root ball to dry through during active growth.
• Support: A secure container is generally enough; add a stake only if the plant starts to lean as it matures.
• Protect the emerging leaf: Keep the growing point clear of older foliage and hard surfaces. Let a rolled edge release naturally because the soft leaf marks easily.
• Repot only after the roots fill the container: Move up by a small amount and use fresh coarse Anthurium mix around the existing root ball. Feed lightly while new roots and leaves are developing.
• Propagation: Use a basal shoot once it has rooted, or root a healthy stem section with an active growing point.

Problems with Anthurium besseae aff. × A. forgetii

• A new leaf opens creased or torn: It may have caught on older foliage or expanded after the root ball became too dry. Clear the growing point, leave the damaged leaf attached and keep moisture steadier for the next leaf.
• The whole plant suddenly droops: Lift the pot and check the root ball before watering. A light, dry root ball needs a thorough soak. If the plant remains limp above mix that is still wet, empty any runoff, let the upper layer dry further and make sure the drainage holes are clear. If yellowing spreads, the central stem softens or the mix smells stale, lift the root ball from the pot. Keep firm roots intact, remove only roots that are soft, hollow or foul-smelling, then replace degraded, waterlogged mix with fresh airy substrate.
• Brown margins appear on several leaves: Repeated drying and mineral or fertiliser residue can cause similar damage. If the root ball has been drying hard between waterings, soak it thoroughly and shorten the next interval slightly. Flush the substrate once and reduce the next feed only when a pale crust on the mix or pot rim, or damage that repeatedly follows feeding, points to salt buildup. If mineral residue keeps returning, switch to water with a lower dissolved-mineral content.

Anthurium besseae aff. × forgetii 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 Anthurium besseae and Anthurium forgetii, and what do the names mean?

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Besseae honours the plant collector Libby Besse. Forgetii honours Monsieur Forget.

In this hybrid label, aff. indicates that the first parent resembles Anthurium besseae but is not identified as that species with certainty.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Anthurium in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 828.

Thomas Bernard Croat first described Anthurium besseae in 2005 in Novon, volume 15, page 84.

Nicholas Edward Brown first described Anthurium forgetii in 1906 in Gardeners’ Chronicle, series 3, volume 39, page 161.