Philodendron melinonii Brongn. ex Regel

Rosulate epiphytic plant, stem ca. 5 cm in diameter, covered by a mass of brownish fibers derived from old prophylls. Roots adventitious, internodes very short. LEAF: Prophyll ca. 20 cm long, whitish with reddish lines, becoming wine-coloured when young, with angled keels, marcescent, persistent, forming a dense mass mixed in with young roots, giving the appearance of a ('Xaxim') [tree fern]. Petiole 36-41 cm long, 1-2.4 cm in diameter, more or less dark green, semiglossy, reddish towards the apex, especially in young leaves; sulcate on the adaxial surface, with raised margins, rounded on the abaxial surface, strongly spongy, with liberal viscous mucilage when broken, with small reddish extrafloral nectaries at the apex; sheath short or nearly absent. Leaf blade oblong-triangular in outline, apex slightly acuminate, base subcordate to emarginate; upper surface dark green, dull, margin light green, midrib lighter than lamina, primary lateral veins impressed; lower surface light green, dull, lighter than the lamina, midrib and primary lateral veins prominent, reddish when young, with very distinct resin lines. Anterior division 4[?]-46 cm long, 26-28 cm wide, primary lateral veins 8-9 on each side; posterior divisions short, acroscopic primary lateral veins 1, basioscopic 1. INFLORESCENCE: 1-2 per floral sympodium. Peduncle ca. 3.8 cm long, 1.5 cm in diameter, smaller than the spathe, with stripes and extrafloral nectaries absent. Spathe 14.8 cm long; tube 7.5 cm long, 2.5 cm in diameter, external surface cream, internal surface light green; blade 7.3 cm long, 3.8 cm in diameter at anthesis, external surface reddish, internal surface light green, resin canals absent in the tube and the blade. spadix ca. 10.4 cm long, subsessile, deeply decurrent; female zone 3 cm long, 1.8 cm in diameter, cylindric; intermediate sterile male zone 1.2 cm long, 1.3 cm in diameter, wider at the base; fertile male zone 6.2 cm long, 0.9 cm in diameter, cylindric, apex conical. Flowers: Stamens 3-4 per flower, 1.75 mm long, 1 mm wide; Staminodes 2.5 mm long, 1.25 mm wide. Gynoecia: 2.5-3 mm long; ovary 1.2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, narrowed slightly at the base; locules 3-5 per ovary; ovules 10 per locule, each ca. 0.75 mm long, 0.25 mm in diameter; placentation sub-basal, biseriate; style 1 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; stigma 0.5 mm wide. INFRUCTESCENCE: Not seen.