Stenospermation ellipticum Croat & D.C. Bay

Ortiz, Orlando Oriel, de Stapf, María Sánchez, Baldini, Riccardo Maria & Croat, Thomas Bernard, 2019, Synopsis of aroids (Alismatales, Araceae) from Cerro Pirre (Darién Province, Panama), Check List 15 (4), pp. 651-689 : 685

Stenospermation ellipticum Croat & D.C. Bay ( Fig. 8F)

Material examined. Serranía de Pirre, along steep narrow ridge from Alturas de Nique to Cerro Pirre, ca 9 km from Alturas de Nique, ca 8 km W of Cana gold mine, virgin cloud forest, lower montane rain forest (Holdrige Life Zone System); 07°49′N, 077°43′W; 1480–1520 m; 27 Jul. 1976; T. B. Croat 37888 ( MO). Parque Nacional Darién, Serranía de Pirre, Rancho Plástico; 07°58′54″N, 077°42′30″W; 1128 m; 31 Jul. 2016; O. O. Ortiz 2651 ( MO, PMA).

Identification. This species is characterized by having epiphytic habit, short and thick internodes; dark green mottled petioles, elliptical blades, glossy above, acuminate at apex, and long pedunculate inflorescences (peduncle 17–35 cm long) with cylindrical yellow spa- dices. Specimens of this species were determined in the past as S. sessile Engl. , which differs in having pale pet- iole sheaths (when dry), smaller blades (proportionally longer than petioles) with smooth and semiglossy upper surfaces.

Distribution and ecology. Colombia and Panama. In the study site, Stenospermation ellipticum ocurrs in submontane and montane forests above 900 m. Due to the size and weight of the individuals, they tend to fall off the branches and grow as accidental terrestrial plants.