Anthurium ochranthum K. Koch

Ortiz, Orlando Oriel, de Stapf, María Sánchez, Baldini, Riccardo Maria & Croat, Thomas Bernard, 2019, Synopsis of aroids (Alismatales, Araceae) from Cerro Pirre (Darién Province, Panama), Check List 15 (4), pp. 651-689 : 667

Anthurium ochranthum K. Koch ( Fig. 4C)

Material examined. Parque Nacional Darién, vicinity of Cerro Pirre base camp, along trail near E side of Río Paracida; 08°00′N, 077°48′W; 1 Jul. 1988; T. B. Croat 68985 ( MO). Vicinity Cerro Pirre, along trail from base camp to Rancho Frío on slopes of Cerro Pirre; 07°58′N, 077°43′W; 200–450 m; 27 Jul. 1994; T. B. Croat 77121 ( MO). Along path to Cerro Pirre ridge from Pijivasal, near El Real, lowland forest; 08°03′N, 077°43′W; 50 m; 29 Jun. 1980; J. P. Folsom 8512 ( MO). Río Pirre, trail up river from house of Bartolo; 07°55′N, 077°44′W; 16 Mar. 1973; H. Kennedy 2891 ( MO, PMA). Parque Nacional Darién, Cerro Pirre, Rancho Frío; 08°01′16″ N, 077°44′04″ W; 103 m; 13 Apr. 2016; O. O. Ortiz 2549 ( PMA). Ibid., camino hacia Rancho Plástico, despues del primer mirador; 08°00′57″N, 077°43′41″W; 157 m; 14 Apr. 2016; O. O. Ortiz 2575 ( PMA). Ibid., Rancho Frio, cerca de la estación de la antigua ANAM; 08°01′16″N, 077°44′04″W; 103 m; 17 Apr. 2016: O. O. Ortiz 2595 ( PMA).

Identification. This species is recognized by its terrestrial habit, short internodes, semi-intact and persistent cataphylls, yellow tapered spadices, and white berries with lilac apex. Based on the characteristics mentioned, there are no species similar to A. ochranthum in the study area. It could be confused with A. dukei Croat , but differs in having massive leaves, ribbed petioles and very long creamy-yellow cataphylls.

Distribution and ecology. Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Compared with other terrestrial aroid species, A. ochranthum is possibly the most abundant in the semideciduous lowland forest of Cerro Pirre, but as elevation increases, its occurrence decreases. It is usual to observe this species along trails, rivers and streams, in shady places or in open areas.