Philodendron maximum K.Krause is a hemiepiphytic Philodendron often said to be one of the world's largest Philodendron species with leaf blades reaching up to 165cm in length. Petioles are sharply D-or U-shaped near base,with erect edges, medium to dark green and semiglossy, smooth, somewhat spongy. Terete, medium green, semiglossy, weakly dark short-lineate in the middle, and subterete in cross-section. Leaf blades are narrowly ovate-sagittate to ovate-triangular-sagittate, subcoriaceous, abruptly acuminate at apex, deeply lobed at base, dark green and moderately glossy above, moderately paler and matte below; margin markedly undulate and weakly sinuate; posterior lobes directed toward the base and often turned inward, sometimes overlapping.
From the Modern Latin genus name Philodendron (Schott, 1830), from Greek philodendron, neuter of philodendros "loving trees," from philo- "loving" (see philo-) + dendron "tree" (from PIE *der-drew-, from root *deru- "to be firm, solid, steadfast," also forming words for "wood, tree"). The plant so called because it clings to trees.
Philodendron maximum
Name: Philodendron maximum K.Krause
Type: herbaceous evergreen
Form: Epiphytic Chamaephytes
Family: Araceae
Native Range: Ecuador to Brazil (Acre, Mato Grosso) and Bolivia.
Zone: 11-13
Habitat: Tropical moist forest and Tropical wet forest life zones. The species frequently grows in the old leaf bases on palms, especially Attalea phalerata (“palmera de motocú”). At 106 to 800 meters
Height: to 5m
Spread: 200-300cm
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Leaf: Evergreen
Tolerate: Semi ShadeTaxon identifiers: Freebase ID : /m/065zh38; PlantList-ID : kew-151757; Tropicos ID : 2103465; IPNI plant ID : 193105-2; Global Biodiversity Information Facility ID : 2871298; Encyclopedia of Life ID : 1135290; NCBI taxonomy ID : 1804094; WCSPF ID : 151757; Plants of the World online ID : urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:193105-2; IRMNG ID : 11069638; iNaturalist taxon ID : 345614; World Flora Online ID : wfo-0000268802
Synonyms: no synonyms recorded