Anthurium papillilaminum

A terrestrial velvet leaf from lowland Panama

Anthurium papillilaminum is endemic to a narrow part of Colón and Darién in Panama. It grows terrestrially on the floor of humid lowland rainforest, generally below 100 m, beneath a dense shaded canopy. The habitat is warm and sheltered, with consistently moist organic litter around the roots.

Growing Anthurium indoors

• Substrate and repotting: Leave Anthurium papillilaminum at its current depth until fresh roots or a cleanly opening leaf show that it has resumed growth. Repot into an airy, close-fitting mix without burying the stem or increasing the pot sharply.
• Light: Give bright filtered light with no hot midday sun on the leaves. A stable position is especially useful while the soft new growth hardens.
• Watering: Keep the root zone evenly moist and water as the upper layer of the substrate begins to dry. Drain immediately after a thorough soak.
• Humidity and airflow: Maintain high humidity with continuous gentle airflow. High humidity in still air can leave new growth vulnerable to damage.
• Feeding: Use a complete fertiliser at low concentration during active growth. Reduce the dose during slower growth and rinse accumulated salts from the mix occasionally.

Troubleshooting Anthurium papillilaminum: normal changes and damage

• A lighter pot or soft yellow leaf: A pot that feels light in the hand, dry upper root zone and flexible leaf indicate thirst; give one thorough watering and clear all runoff. A pot that feels heavy in the hand with soft yellow growth indicates root failure, while cold roots can create similar wilting despite moist substrate.
• A soft or hollow root system: Healthy lowland roots feel firm in a warm fine airy mix. Remove hollow or slippery roots using sharp scissors cleaned first, use a close-fitting ventilated pot and keep the root zone above 20 °C.
• Scarring, stippling and visible insects: Thrips scar soft new leaves and mites create pale stippling. Take a close look at undersides and emerging leaf sheaths with magnification. Isolate, test a labelled treatment on a small area, use the product’s stated timing for follow-up applications and check the whole plant after treatment.
• A fixed scar or moving dark edge: Dry contact marks and residue can show a stable outline on velvet leaves.
• Dry leaf tips and water quality: Brown tips may be linked to a missed watering, salts or dry heat. Check pot weight, use low-mineral water and restore even moisture. Cold damage usually appears directly after a temperature drop.

Anthurium papillilaminum 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.

Why is it called Anthurium papillilaminum?

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Papillilaminum combines Latin papilla, “small protuberance”, and lamina, “blade”, referring to the finely bumpy leaf surface.

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 papillilaminum in 1986 in Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden, volume 14, page 152.