Epipremnum Explained

Epipremnum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, found in tropical forests from China, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia to Australia the western Pacific.^{[1] [2] [3]} They are evergreen perennial vines climbing with the aid of aerial roots.^[4] They may be confused with other Monstereae such as Rhaphidophora, Scindapsus and Amydrium.

All parts of the plants are toxic, mostly due to trichosclereids (long sharp cells) and raphides. Plants can grow to over 40m (130feet) with leaves up to 3m (10feet) long, but in containers the size is much reduced. The plants, commonly known as centipede tongavine, pothos or devil's ivy, depending on species, are typically grown as houseplants in temperate regions. Juvenile leaves are bright green, often with irregularly variegated patterns of yellow or white. They may find host trees by the use of skototropism.

Etymology

From the Greek ἐπί (upon) and πρέμνον (stump).^[5]

Species

1. Epipremnum amplissimum (Schott) Engl. - Queensland, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Vanuatu
2. Epipremnum aureum (Linden & André) G.S.Bunting - native to Moorea in Polynesia; naturalized in Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Queensland, Melanesia, Seychelles, Hawaii, Florida, Costa Rica, Bermuda, the West Indies, Brazil, and Ecuador
3. Epipremnum carolinense Volkens - Micronesia
4. Epipremnum ceramense (Engl. & K.Krause) Alderw. - Maluku
5. Epipremnum dahlii Engl. - Bismarck Archipelago
6. Epipremnum falcifolium Engl. - Borneo
7. Epipremnum giganteum (Roxb.) Schott - Indochina (Syn. Monstera gigantea (Roxb.) Schot)
8. Epipremnum meeboldii K.Krause - Manipur region of India
9. Epipremnum moluccanum Schott - Maluku
10. Epipremnum moszkowskii K.Krause - western New Guinea
11. Epipremnum nobile (Schott) Engl. - Sulawesi
12. Epipremnum obtusum Engl. & K.Krause - Papua New Guinea
13. Epipremnum papuanum Alderw. - Papua New Guinea
14. Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. - widespread across Southeast Asia, southern China, New Guinea, Melanesia, northern Australia; naturalized in West Indies
15. Epipremnum silvaticum Alderw. Sumatra

Fossil record

Three fossil seeds of †Epipremnum crassum have been described from middle Miocene strata of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark. Fossils of this species have also been reported from the Oligocene and Miocene of Western Siberia and the Miocene and Pliocene of Europe.^[6]

Bibliography

• Strong. Donald R.. Ray. Thomas S.. Thomas S. Ray. Host Tree Location Behavior of a Tropical Vine (Monstera gigantea) by Skototropism. Science. 1 January 1975. 190. 4216. 804–806. 1741614. 10.1126/science.190.4216.804 . 1975Sci...190..804S . 84386403.

External links

• • Epipremnum information

Notes and References

1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=70472 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. Govaerts, R. & Frodin, D.G. (2002). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae): 1-560. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
3. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=111866 Flora of China Vol. 23 Page 14, 麒麟叶属 qi lin ye shu, Epipremnum Schott, Bonplandia (Hannover). 5: 45. 1857.
4. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
5. Book: CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology (5 Volume Set). 9781482250640. Quattrocchi. Umberto. 2016-04-19. CRC Press .
6. Angiosperm fruits and seeds from the Middle Miocene of Jutland (Denmark) . Else Marie . Friis . Det Kongelige Danske Videnskaberne Selskab, Biologiske Skrifter . 24 . 3 . 1–165 . 1985 .