Commercial Floriculture

Plant morphology

Plant morphology Anthurium andreanum a perennial with creeping, climbing or arborescent stem s with lots of aerial roots. The stem is highly condensed and is not visible during early growing period. As plants grow the stems become noticeable with distinct node and internodal regions. The roots are fleshy, thick and the root biomass is more when compared to the shoot biomass. The lamina portion of the leaf is attached to a long petiole from where, the mid rib and lateral veins originate in a radiant fashion. The leaves are coppery green in early stages, which turn to dark green as they mature. The attractive colourful plant that is traded is actually a modification of the leaf, which is botanically called ‘spathe’. The heart shaped spathe appears on a long flower stalk and a number of veins that originate from the junction of the spathe and the flower stalk. The veins are interconnected with secondary and tertiary veins. A cylindrical fleshy ‘spadix’ originates from the same junction and produces a number of bisexual flowers (150-250 flowers) which are arranged in concentric whorls. The female part of the flower matures first (protogynous), which can be noticed by nectar like secretions in the form of shining droplets on the flowers. The anthers dehisce at a later stage forcing the flowers to cross pollinate. When the stigmatic surfaces are wet and receptive, pollen from another flower/variety/species can be applied to pollinate the flowers. After successful pollination, the spadix enlarges and turns dark green in colour; the spathe also loses its original pigmentation and turns green by producing enough chlorophyll pigments. The product of fertilization i.e. the fruit – is a berry which pops out of the spadix on maturity. The seed is covered by juicy, mucilaginous pulp, which needs to be removed, when the seeds are sown. Anthurium plants normally grow epiphytically (on trees), Some times epileptically (on rocks) or Terrestrially (on the ground). Epiphytical Anthurium grows on the trunks of the trees or on the rocks, but they are not tree parasites. They use them as a foundation or supporting material. They had an aerial root system, which absorbs nutrients & also moisture from the air. Since the Anthurium roots are naturally in contact with the outside air.

Taxonomy:
Family : Araceae
Sub family :Othideae
Order Alismatales within the Araceae family.
The common feature of the Araceae family is
• The typical cup shaped inflorescence,
• The arum consists of the ‘Spathe’ & the ‘Spadix’.

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