Anthurium amnicola Dressler

Anthurium amnicola Dressler, Aroideana 3(2): 55. 1980.
Etymology: Stream dweller, this species is found growing on boulders in streams.
Distribution: Panama
Sectional Placement: Originally placed in section Porphyrochitonium, A. amnicola has more recently been moved to section Calomystrium due to its persistant intact catyphylls and lack of glandular punctations.
Description: Herba saxicola; internodii brevia; petioli gracillimi, breviter vaginati; lamina elliptica vel elliptico-lanceolata, acuta; pedunculi gracillimi, spatha lilacina, ovata, acuta; spadix breviter stipitatus, violaceus.
Epipetric (growing on rock); stem to 30cm with short internodes; leaves, erect and spreading, eliptic to eliptic-lanceolate, glossy and dark green above with sparse glandular punctations, back epunctate; inflorescence, erect rising above leaves, spathe, light lavender, spadix violet purple, berries, white.
For a more detailed description of this species.
Type Locale: south of Cocle del Norte, in Colon Prov., Panama. On boulders in streams.
Notes: Dressler originally described this species as new in Selbyana 2:300. 1978 as Anthurium lilacinum, and the above type description may be found there. Anth. lilacinum was a name already in use, the correction was made in Aroideana 3(2): 55. 1980.
Since it's discovery and subsequent description, Anthurium amnicola has been used extensively in hybridizing small, colorful, pot plants for indoor culture. Coupled with various Anth. andreanum cultivars and hybrids, Anth. amnicola has produced a variety of spathe colors on small compact plants.
Altough difficult to cultivate as a species, the hybrids are of easy culture and readily available at many nurseries.
Anth. amnicola is one of the smaller anthurium species.
For additional information and a more detailed description of this species, see A Revision of the Genus Anthurium (Araceae) of Mexico and Central America, Part II: Panama.
Copyright © 2007 by Neil Carroll. All rights reserved.