Philodendron hooveri Croat & Grayum

Scandent, subshrubby epiphytic vine climbing to at least 2 m above ground (three collections describe the habit as terrestrial). Internodes 1.1-10.2 cm long, 0.3-0.5 cm wide, drying green and finely sulcate, the epidermis tessellate; roots present but few at distal nodes, to ca, 2.0 mm in diameter. LEAVES: Petiole (7.6-) 8.9-15.9 (-17.5) cm long, P/L=(0.48-) 0.55-0.90, sheathed 71-90+ %, the sheath erect to probably involute, scarious-margined, the free portion prolonged by ca. 1.0-1.5 mm; unsheathed portion of petiole (0.2-) 2.0-4.1 (-4.8) cm long. Lamina (14.2-) 18.4-24.7 cm long, (5.4-) 6.1-11.4 (-13.6) cm wide, L/W= 1.73-2.86 (-3.52), IQI=5-10 (-12), ± broadly ovate to elliptical or somewhat obovate (widest from below to slightly above the middle), ± abruptly to gradually moderately to some- what long-acuminate apically (the acumen ca. 0.8-2,0 cm long), cuneate to truncate basally; midrib not described; primary lateral veins 10-13 per side, 0.2-2.2 (-3.1) cm apart, with interprimaries usually evident; abaxial laminar surface drying moderately to densely and evenly somewhat asperous-granular (especially along the veins) or occasionally ± alveolate, with the reticulate veins visible toward the margin; white stitching not evident to obscure and very widely scattered; resin canals visible flanking lateral veins; adaxial surface moderately granular or weakly to moderately alveolate, with reticulate veins not obvious; white stitching not evident; resin canals not evident. INFLORESCENCES solitary or paired; cataphylls often present, 1.9-7.1 cm long, 0.3-0.6 cm wide, narrowly lanceolate; peduncle (2.0-) 3.6-6.0 cm long, P/S=(0.24-) 0.33-0.70 (-0.93) ; spathe at anthesis 6.5-11.0 cm long, 1.1-2.1 cm wide, externally glossy, pale green to green, yellowish green to white distally, internally green proximally; spathe drying moderately to densely granular or verrucate-granular with resin canals not visible externally, with some stitching especially toward margins, internally moderately low-granular or granular (or coarsely granular toward base) and loosely reticulate-veined, with scattered concolorous stitching, with longitudinal secretory striations apparently confined to basal 1/7-2/5; acumen of spathe 0.3-1.3 cm long. Stipe of spadix 0.2-1.0 cm long; spadix 5.7-9.0 (-11.1) cm long, the fertile male portion 0.35-0.50 cm wide, cream- colored or white; apical sterile male zone 1.9-2.8 cm long, somewhat broadened relative to the subtending fertile region; intermediate sterile male zone 0.2-0.6 cm long; fertile female portion of spadix (1.1-) 1.6-2.6 cm long, F/S=0.15-0.30 (-0.36+), 0.45-0.75 (-0.95) cm wide, green; fertile male flowers 0.6-0.9 mm long, 0.5-1.1 mm wide, irregularly polygonal, columnar; apical sterile male flowers 0.6- 1.0 mm long, 0.7-2.7 mm wide, rhomboidal or irregularly polygonal to elongate; intermediate sterile male flowers 1.0-1.2 mm long, 1.0-1.6 mm wide, mushroom- shaped; female flowers 1.1-1.7 mm long, 0.6-1.2 mm wide, the stylar canals 4-5. INFRUCTESCENCES: Ripe fruits not described. Mature seeds not seen; immature seeds strongly curved, somewhat C-shaped.