Philodendron sagittifolium

Philodendron sagittifolium belongs to the arum family, Araceae. It climbs and keeps its leaves all year. Its native range runs from Mexico through Central America to Venezuela. It grows in Colombia too. It lives in the wet tropics, with some forest sites at mid-level heights. Records from Guatemala place it at 3,940–4,920 feet [1,200–1,500 metres]. There, it grows on trees in moist and wet forest.

The plant can form a small or large climbing shrub. Its stem climbs tree trunks and reaches into the canopy. It is an epiphyte: it uses trees for support. Stems measure about 0.03–0.10 feet [0.01–0.03 metres] thick. The account gives no firm height or spread for full-grown plants. It gives no close account of the leaves either. Its aerial roots grow above ground and have a local use. People take these roots from wild plants to make baskets.

The flowers have a spadix, a type of flower spike. It can give off heat as pollen becomes ready for fertilization. The heat makes the flower scent stronger and draws insects that move pollen. It may also make the insects that visit more active. These effects can help move pollen and improve fertilization. The source shows flowers and fruit but gives few fruit details. It does not give the fruit's colour or the bloom season.

When grown in gardens, this plant prefers part shade and moist soil. The soil should drain well and hold plenty of humus. The roots need moisture, but should not sit in waterlogged soil. The source says the plant needs little feed. Feeds rich in magnesium can still help it grow from time to time. Growers can raise new plants from seed or by air layering. They can also use stem-tip cuttings or leaf-bud cuttings. Seeds sprout best at 20°C. The source gives no frost limit or hardiness zone.

The source lists no uses for this species as food or medicine. It warns of a possible calcium oxalate risk based on the plant's family. It does not confirm a risk tied to this species alone. But this family-based warning does not show that the plant is safe to eat. The account names no pests or diseases known to affect it. The use it records is making baskets from aerial roots.