I have noticed that the species of the genus Anthurium, in the great majority, tend to be endemic in a given area. This happens very much in Atlantic forest of Brazil. In my doctoral thesis I noticed that with the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of the species and geographical distribution of each, you can, with some ease, separate species. I note, too, this trend on family Araceae.
I agree with you Marcus, when a species is well described and material is known, separation can be accomplished. In working on the interactive key to Anthurium for the CATE-araceae project I've found geographical distribution to be the primary point for separating out species, closely followed by vegetative characters. The leaf blade and petiole are very important, as are stem characters. I find that having characters defined in living material, particularly of petiole, midrib and primary lateral veins shape can be what separates very closely related species found in the same region.
Other characters very interesting and that help in the separation of species are: the presence or absence of dark spots on the leaf blade and the presence or absence of stipite; the kind of angle formed by spathe in relation to peduncle; the shape of the peduncle; color of the fruit; form of spathe and, a feature that I am seeing lately, the color of spadix. I have noticed, besides the common brown colour, also green and color of straw.
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I have noticed that the species of the genus Anthurium, in the great majority, tend to be endemic in a given area. This happens very much in Atlantic forest of Brazil. In my doctoral thesis I noticed that with the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of the species and geographical distribution of each, you can, with some ease, separate species. I note, too, this trend on family Araceae.
I agree with you Marcus, when a species is well described and material is known, separation can be accomplished. In working on the interactive key to Anthurium for the CATE-araceae project I've found geographical distribution to be the primary point for separating out species, closely followed by vegetative characters. The leaf blade and petiole are very important, as are stem characters. I find that having characters defined in living material, particularly of petiole, midrib and primary lateral veins shape can be what separates very closely related species found in the same region.
Other characters very interesting and that help in the separation of species are: the presence or absence of dark spots on the leaf blade and the presence or absence of stipite; the kind of angle formed by spathe in relation to peduncle; the shape of the peduncle; color of the fruit; form of spathe and, a feature that I am seeing lately, the color of spadix. I have noticed, besides the common brown colour, also green and color of straw.
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