Philodendron mesae G.S.Bunting

Scandent herb, stem at first dark green, becoming weak-grey brown, 2.5 cm thick, internodes 3-7 cm long. Cataphyll whitish, suffused with pink externally, greenish towards the centre, caducous. LEAVES: Petiole terete, up to 43 cm long and 1.2 cm thick, sheathed in the lower part for 7-11.5 cm. Leaf blade reflexed, subcoriaceous but brittle, outline triangular or ovate-triangular, cordate at the base, acute at the apex with an acumen, 37-55 cm long and 18-25 cm wide, margin barely undulate; adaxially matte, glaucescent, midrib convex 0.5-0.7 (-0.9) cm wide and primary lateral veins sulcate, 7-8 on each side, emerging at an angle of ca. 65-70º, arcuate towards the margin; abaxially glossy, midrib strongly convex, primary veins prominent; posterior lobes rounded or moderately angular and obtuse, separated by a 6-8 cm deep, parabolic sinus, 3 (-4) primary lateral veins joined near the base. INFLORESCENCE: Solitary, 9.5-12 cm long. Spathe up to 18 cm long; tube fusiform, somewhat constricted upwards, ca. 10 cm long and 2.3 cm thick, externally green, internally ivory white, except for the basal 1/3 which is cherry red; blade ivory white on both surfaces, externally suffused with pink. Spadix sessile, 16 cm long (length post anthesis), female zone 7-8 cm long and 1.7-1.8 cm thick, sterile male zone ca. 2 cm long and 1.3 cm thick, fertile zone ca. 6 cm long and 1 cm thick. INFRUCTESCENCE almost mature 2 cm thick, berries ivory white, ovary 9-locular, locules one-seeded, seeds affixed near the base.