Anthurium scandens subsp. pusillum R. Sheffer

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 : 669-671

Anthurium scandens subsp. pusillum R. Sheffer ( Fig. 5C)

Material examined. Parque Nacional Darién, Cerro Pirre, Rancho Plástico; 07°59′43″N, 077°42′39″W; 700 m; 18 Jul. 2016; J Aranda s.n. ( PMA). Cerro Pirre; 07°52′N, 077°44′W; 4 Aug. 1967; N. Bristán 1242 ( MO). Ibid., cloud forest and/or mossy forest; 07°50′N, 077°44′W; 750–1300 m; 9–10 Aug. 1967; J. A. Duke 13701 ( MO). Serranía Pirre, on main ridge from intersection with trail down to Rancho Frío to 1.5 mi. N of that point; 08°00′N, 077°43′W; 800–900 m; 12 Jul. 1977; R. L. Hartman 4547 ( MO, PMA).

Identification. This taxon is characterized by having an epiphytic-climbing habit, short stems and internodes, fibrous-persistent cataphylls, black glandular-punctate blades, usually pendent inflorescences, small spathes and spadices (<1.0 cm long) and whitish berries. Anthurium scandens subsp. pusillum differs from the typical subspecies ( A. scandens subsp. scandens ) in having spadices with fewer flowers (<13 flowers per spadix), small leaves, and very small spadices (up to 1.0 cm long). In the study area it could be confused with A. tonduzii Engl. , but the latter differs in having intact and deciduous cata- phylls, markedly ovate blades and reddish spadices.

Distribution and ecology. Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela. This taxon generally ocurrs in montane and submontane forests, above 600 m ( Croat 1986b). On Cerro Pirre, it represents a relatively rare species. Along the elevation gradient, it can only be observed in the montane cloud forest above 1100 m.