Philodendron tortum

Philodendron tortum, described by Soares and Mayo, is a climbing aroid ranging from northern Brazil through to Bolivia, an understory and lower canopy plant that ascends tree trunks in humid wet tropical forest with rich organic litter, constant moisture and diffuse light. It is one of the most immediately identifiable Philodendrons in cultivation: the leaves are deeply dissected pinnatifid, with numerous narrow, linear lobes arrayed along a strong central rachis in an arrangement that is unmistakably skeletal, more reminiscent of a feather or a frond than a conventional cordate aroid leaf. Slender internodal stems bear prominent nodes with cataphyll remnants and aerial roots. The 'Aurea Variegated' form has attracted considerable collector attention, but the base species has its own devoted following among those who appreciate the plant's structural drama without the premium the variegated form commands.

Native range

Northern Brazil to Bolivia (wet tropical lowland and lower montane forest)

Classification

Genus

Philodendron

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Climbing hemiepiphyte, scandent

Morphology

Leaf shape

Deeply dissected pinnatifidFoliage deeply lobed in a feather-like pattern, but not cut all the way to the central vein., numerous narrow linearLong and very narrow leaves with parallel sides, similar to grass. lobes along a central rachis

Leaf length

30-60 cm (overall blade span)

Leaf width

20-40 cm (spread across lobes)

Petiole colour

Slender, green with cataphyll remnants at nodes

Venation

Strong midrib per lobe, prominent rachis

Texture

Thin-coriaceous, semi-glossy on lobe surfaces

Variegation

None

Growth habit

ScandentClimbing or scrambling upward, typically requiring vertical support. climber on slender stems with aerial roots at prominent nodes