Introducing the Anthurium Holy Grail: sp. nov "DF"

Dubbing it the current ‘Holy Grail’ is entirely subjective, however it is one of the more elusive Anthurium species in the collecting world today. One that combines unique aesthetics featuring a flaring basal lobed, narrowing leaf structure with pale contrast veining made pronounced by the dark form qualities of the clone found in very few collections. Still undescribed hence, the species nova (Latin for new species) designation, this stunning plant is also relatively unknown by the majority of collectors, in particular those newer to anthurium subculture. We’ll give as much information as we know it, while sharing to the world the new goal plant of 2022.

By @littlegramofhorrors April 5, 2022

Interim Naming Credits

As always, we like to educate with as much background available regarding the species. To clarify, it is important to know that a brief diagnosis of key characters, and a peer-reviewed and published description in a recognized scientific journal is what is required to formally name a species. While this particular plant is still in the process of being studied with a view to describing it, it has taken on a trade name in the interim of “DF” to distinguish it from hundreds of other undescribed anthuriums pending publication. It is still considered a species nova and the addition of “DF” is a placeholder name.

It’s important to credit two very prominent people in the aroid world. The abbreviation for “DF” in the name is short for Dewey Fisk, a well-known plantsman and amateur aroid specialist who passed away in 2019. His reported reluctance to share this species and poor record-keeping towards the end of his life are likely the main reasons why we have not seen more historical information on this plant. Dewey Fisk was well known for having one of the most extensive private aroid collections during the time he was active.

Dewey received two dark form sp. nov. “DF” plants originating from another U.S. rare plant collector who reportedly found them in Northern Ecuador in the early 1990’s. Jay Vannini, one of the most distinguished growers of provenance-rare anthuriums in the world and responsible for many high-quality hybrids circulating in today’s tropical ornamental plant trade, purchased an established offset of the more attractive clone over two decades ago and took it home to Guatemala with him.

Cultivation Today

Jay has recently introduced this plant into a few collections, having produced a limited number of offsets, while also “selfing” it with limited success, creating a small number of near-identical propagations of the original dark form Anthurium sp. nov.  “DF”. It’s important to note this, given the history that surrounds this plant or others thought to be similar. Due to the credible backstory from Dewey Fisk, the uniformity of selfed progeny with large seedlings looking almost identical to the mother plant, combined with a series of unique secondary characters, it is strongly believed this plant is a pure species.

It’s unknown what has become of the second dark form wild-collected clone, however there is speculation the plant which goes by a species & trade name Anthurium “portillae”, is a resulting open-pollinated hybrid that included the sp. nov. “DF” pure material.

Gorgeous matured specimen photographed by Andre Fuentes

Market Interest

To date, there has only been one public on-sale of this plant. A Facebook auction that took place in August of 2021 resulting in a purchase of an offset priced at $8,055. This took place nearly seven months ago, and while a few originals from Jay have since been propagated, it’s not one to find available with any ease. Having said that, there’s a significant desire for hardcore collectors to add this pinnacle plant.

Care

This is always user dependent as so many factors contribute to an optimal environment. Credit to Andre Fuentes, a highly regarded aroid collector in the Bay Area, for gracing the rare aroid community with perhaps the most standout specimen grown as an offset he obtained from Jay, but also having the skill to grow one of the larger ones found outside of Jay Vannini’s collection. Andre has been advantageous with indoor lighting, creating a great environment to produce extremely dark foliage utilizing 300 foot candles, though this can be considered borderline for this species to produce black leaves. Please keep in mind LED output should preferably be measured with light meters designed for reading LEDs and that these grow lights usually have very different spectra from natural light, unless designed to specifically mimic it.

This plant has grown within indoor collections at over 90% humidity, and consistent watering. It’s proving to be a not-so fussy Anthurium.

Hybrids

Perhaps one of the more exciting side effects of having originated from Jay’s collection is it was due for stellar hybrid creations so long as it fulfilled its end of the bargain. Fortunately, Jay is a master at this and has produced a very limited quantity of Anthurium Demon Mama, a hybrid of sp. nov. “DF” x warocqueanum ‘Jolly Green Giant’, a famous enormous clone of his. He has also created two other hybrids that he has not sold, including the rarely seen Coca Queen (sp. nov. “DF” x rugulosum ‘Lago Agrio Rd’), images of which were circulated prior to Jay’s decision to not release it.

A young Anthurium Demon Mama hybrid.

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Special thanks to Andre Fuentes for use of imagery and additional care details. You can find more plant content from Andre on his instagram: @plantanalog