Anthurium papillilaminum × ‘Ace of Spades’

Parentage and cultivated origin of Anthurium papillilaminum × ‘Ace of Spades’

This parent combination was made in cultivation and exists only in cultivation. Anthurium papillilaminum is a Panamanian wet-forest species. ‘Ace of Spades’ was selected and named by Denis Rotolante and released in 1988; its base plant was an unidentified, jungle-collected Anthurium.

Care for Anthurium papillilaminum × ‘Ace of Spades’

• Opening leaves: Keep a clear path for the long soft leaf and avoid touching or moving the plant until the tissue is firm.
• Position: Provide bright indirect light and keep the upright leaves a safe distance from hot midday glass.
• Temperature and humidity: Provide about 18–27 °C, keeping the plant away from extended temperatures under 15 °C. Humidity of 60–80% suits the foliage with light circulation.
• Watering and roots: Water when the top layer has dried and the pot feels lighter. Use a porous aroid mix in a pot closely matched to the root system and let the excess drain.
• Support: Use a stable pot and add a stake only if heavier mature growth starts to need support.
• Repotting: A crowded root system or tightly packed new growth from the base are the cues to move the clump into a slightly wider pot.
• Feeding: Feed lightly during active leaf and root development. Reduce feeding as growth slows.
• Propagation: Separate a rooted basal shoot when available; otherwise use a healthy stem section with an active growing point.

Leaf marks and uneven growth

• A soft blade develops a bleached area: Direct sun or heat from nearby glass may have damaged the tender tissue. Move the plant farther from the exposure; the existing mark will remain, so use the next leaf to check the new position.
• One basal lobe or the sinus develops unevenly: Mild asymmetry can be part of the leaf’s natural form. A sharp crease or flattened area may indicate contact during expansion; give the next growth more clearance.

Anthurium papillilaminum × ‘Ace of Spades’ 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.

Anthurium papillilaminum: name and meaning

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.