Re: secondary hemiepiphytes
- To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L
- Subject: Re: secondary hemiepiphytes
- From: a* s* j*
- Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 22:49:28 -0500 (CDT)
Your mention of fast growing, ground-hugging plants reminds me of
something I read ---- that many Philodendron species, when on the
ground, seek climbing surfaces by rapidly growing in a "stolon"
pattern...with long internodes and very minute leaves. Once a climbing
surface is scaled, the plant structure changes, with much shorter
internodes and larger, elaborate leaves.
I have continued to read up on the subject, and here is another mention
of secondary hemiepiphytes and loss of lower stem portions:
"The second type start their lives on the ground or on tree trunks near
the ground (where they send roots to the ground) and climb trees where
they become adults and may lose their connection with the ground. These
are referred to as secondary hemiepiphytes (Putz & Holbrook, 1986)."
This is from DR. Croat's paper on Philodendrons at:
http://www.aroid.org/genera/Philodendron/habgrowpat.htm
alan.
StellrJ@aol.com wrote:
> You may well have it. It could be similar to a rhizomatous habit;
> rhizomatous plants grow at the shoot end, and die off at the "back" end,
> gradually migrating in the direction of growth. Rhizomatous plants put out
> roots all along their underground stems (rhizomes). Your secondary
> hemiepiphytes do the same all along their climbing stems. The question is,
> are there terrestrial rhizomatous plants in the same genera as secondary
> epiphytes? This could suggest an evolutionary relationship between the two
> habits.
>
> Jason Hernandez
> Naturalist-at-Large
