Surname: Philodendron asplundii Croat & MLSoares 2001
Synonyms: not known
etymology:
asplundii = Erik Asplund (1888-1974), Swedish botanist in South America
Reproduction: Division
Origin: Ecuador, Peru
Location:
Philodendron asplundii is a hemi-epiphytic plant and is restricted to the Amazon basin. Its distribution extends from southern Venezuela and French Guiana to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. This species occurs at altitudes of 150-2500 m in tropical moist forests and pre-montane moist forests.
Remarks:
The second recorded collection of this very large-leaved species was made by the Swedish botanist Eric Asplund in Ecuador in 1956. The first collection was made by EP Killip & AC Smith in 1929 on the Río Huallaga in Peru. Since existing names preclude the use of Killip's or Smith's names, the species was named in honor of Asplund.
Eric Asplund was one of the first collectors in Ecuador and was responsible for collecting many new Araceae species.