Philodendron

philodendron: see arum.

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philodendron

Any of about 200 species of climbing herbaceous plants that make up the genus Philodendron in the arum family, native to the New World tropics. Some are popular indoor foliage plants in colder areas and landscape plants in warmer climates. The leaves are often large and smooth-edged to variously lobed and cut. The inflorescence is seldom produced indoors. Many forms are available in cultivation, foremost among them the common heart-leaf (Philodendron scandens oxycardium). Large varieties include the spade-leaf philodendron (P. domesticum or P. hastatum), with triangular leaves up to 2 ft (60 cm) long, and the selloum philodendron (P. selloum), with deeply cut leaves up to 3 ft (1 m) long.

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Philodendron 

a genus of lianas of the family Araceae. The plants climb by means of aerial roots and sometimes spread along the ground and forest underbrush. The plants are often epiphytes. A few species have a shortened stem. All parts of the plant contain a milky juice. The lobate or pinnatisect entire leaves are oval or elongate, with a heart-shaped or arrow-shaped base. The unisexual flowers lack a perianth and are in spadices surrounded by a white, yellow, or red spathe. The pistillate flowers are at the base of the spadix; above them are the staminate flowers. Underdeveloped sterile flowers are at the apex of the spadix. The fruit is a berry.

There are more than 250 philodendron species, in the tropics of Central and South America. A number of species, including P. scandens and P. selloum, are grown in conservatories and homes as ornamentals. Sometimes plants of the genus Monstera are erroneously called philodendrons.