''Anthurium regale'' is a
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of ''
Anthurium
''Anthurium'' (; Schott, 1829) is a genus of about 1,000Mantovani, A. and T. E. Pereira. (2005)''Anthurium'' (section ''Urospadix''; subsection ''Flavescentiviridia'').''Rodriguesia'' 56(88), 145–60. species of flowering plants, the largest g ...
(''section Cardiolonchium), a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
flowering
Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...
aroid plant in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Araceae
The Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe (or leaf-like bract). Also ...
. It was first described by Europeans in the 1866 edition of
La Belgique Horticole, where it was noted to be first collected for the houseplant trade by
Gustav Wallis during his time working for
. This impressive and sought-after ''Anthurium'' species is native to
Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
, where it may be found near the
Huallaga River valley, to the north of
Tingo María and
Juanjuí, in the
regions
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
of
Huánuco
Huánuco (; ) is a city in central Peru. It had a population of 196,627 as of 2017 and in 2015 it had a population of 175,068. It is the capital of the Huánuco Region and the Huánuco District. It is the seat of the diocese of Huánuco. The met ...
and San Martín, respectively (with a number of specimens being described from the latter location). This species is found in forested areas, where it grows on trees
epiphytically, ranging from sea-level environments to
cloud forests
A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, ...
, up to about 243 meters (800 feet) in elevation. ''A. regale'' is often found in areas where the ambient humidity is consistently high, and where temperatures remain steadily between 15 °C (59°F) and 26.6 °C (80°F).
''Anthurium regale'' is best known for its large,
cordate
Cordate is an adjective meaning ' heart-shaped' and is most typically used for:
* Cordate (leaf shape), in plants
* Cordate axe, a prehistoric stone tool
See also
* Chordate
A chordate ( ) is a bilaterian animal belonging to the phyl ...
leaves, which have a slight velvety texture and often display prominent white veining. Generally, mature leaves feature two to three distinct sizes of veins: one prominent, vertical white vein in the center, dividing the leaf in half; several smaller, lateral veins as offshoots; and several even smaller veins as further offshoots of those.
Each lateral vein connects in a large "circle" around the leaf's edge, eventually all meeting at the leaf tip, where they connect with the dominant central vein.
References
regale
Flora of Peru
Plants described in 1866
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