Anthurium esmeraldense
Epiphytic or terrestrial; internodes short, broader than long, to 3 cm diam., drying reddish brown; cataphylls subcoriaceous, to 25 cm long, drying brown, persisting intact; petioles 36-81 cm long (averaging 63.4 cm), to 6 mm diam. in middle, medium green, semiglossy; blades subcoriaceous to moderately coriaceous, triangular-ovate, acuminate at apex, cordate to sagittate at base, (28)42-59 cm long, 13.5-25 cm wide (averaging 46 x 19.5 cm), 2.1-2.5 times longer than broad, .5-.8 times longer than petiole; drying reddish brown; upper surface dark green and velvety; lower surface reddish green and moderately glossy, obscurely dark-punctate; anterior lobe 22-44 cm long, 3.5 times longer than the posterior lobes; posterior lobes 6-18 cm long, 5-14 cm wide, directed somewhat inward; sinus spathulate, 10 cm deep, 1.5-2.5 cm wide; midrib convex and much paler above, pale and triangular-winged below, drying slightly raised in valley above, acutely raised below; basal veins 5 pairs, first 2 pairs free to base, the remainder coalesced to 7 cm from base; posterior rib naked 1.5-3 cm; primary lateral veins 6-8 per side, departing midrib at 45°-60° angles, ascending to collective vein, raised below on drying; collective vein arising from one of the lowermost basal veins, varying from 2-9 mm from margin, indented to 9 mm at point of merging with basal veins, narrowing to 5--6 mm along lobes, narrowing further to 2 mm near apex; INFLORESCENCES erect to erect-spreading; peduncle 27--69 cm long, 4-15 mm diam. at middle; spathe 10-19 cm long, (3-)4-6 cm wide, oblanceolate, often hooding spadix moderately glossy, medium green or red inside; spadix white, erect, cylindroid, 6.5-15 cm long, 1-1.5 cm diam. INFRUCTESCENCES not seen.
Anthurium esmeraldense occurs from Colombia (Narioo) to Ecuador (Cotopaxi, Esmeraldas, Pichincha) at 250-1,900 m in Premontane moist forest, Premontane rain forest, Premontane wet forest and Tropical very dry forest. Aside from the La Planada area the species is known to be very abundant in Esmeraldas Province of Ecuador along the Lita-San Lorenzo Road at ca. 600 m and it has also been collected in Cotopaxi Province at Tenefuerte along the Rio Pilalo at 750-900 m, indicating that it is primarily a species of high elevation. It is to be expected in the intervening area in similar life zones. Antburium esmeraldense is apparently quite rare at La Planada, as it has been collected only once, along the trail to El Hondon. The La Planada material differs from type material which has a narrower spathe which is red inside.