(Anthurium andraeanum): Structure and Function

Anthurium andraeanum is a tropical plant native to Colombia and Ecuador that thrives in shady and humid environments. It can grow as an epiphyte (living on other plants without affecting them in any way) or on other non-living surfaces. It is an angiosperm (a flowering plant) with waxy, glossy leaves that allow water to run off the plants surface. This helps the plant limit its water uptake while living in the tropics, which are typically very humid. What appears to be the flower (the red "petal") is actually a spathe, which is a modified leaf. In this case, it is used to attract pollinators with its bright colors. The flowers themselves exist on the spadix, which is the stem-like protrusion on the spathe. The spadix is covered with lots of tiny flowers and is called an inflorescence. A. andraeanum has bisexual flowers; they first have female structures, and later morph into males. This prevents self-pollination. The plant is pollinated by bugs and produces berries that each contain about 1-3 seeds. A. andraeanum can also reproduce asexually through suckers that grow out from the underground portion of the shoot. These suckers give rise to plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

(Anthurium andraeanum): Evolutionary Relationships

Anthurium andraeanum is in the Anthurium genus within the Araceae family, which are most commonly known as the aroids. This family is characterized by plants containing spathes (modified leaves, such as the red structure on the Flamingo Lily) and spadices (the stalk-like protrusion covered in tiny flower clusters). It is an incredibly diverse family, containing an estimated 4,000 species. Some species in this family are native to Wisconsin, including Jack-in-the-pulpit. In Madison, this plant has been observed and recorded 387 times in the past 12 years and can be commonly seen along both Lake Mendota and Lake Wingra. The similarities between Jack-in-the-pulpit and Flamingo Lily can be seen with the spadix, which protrudes from the center of the spathe and looks similar in both species. However, the spathe is modified differently in the Jack-in-the-pulpit; it forms a vaselike structure to both trap pollinators into carrying more pollen and to protect the flowers. Another Araceae species native to Wisconsin is the Eastern Skunk Cabbage. This plant can also be seen in Madison, commonly near Lake Wingra. The Eastern Skunk Cabbage has both a spathe and a spadix, similar to the Flamingo Lily. However, the spadix, instead of being a thin stalk-like structure, is rounder in the skunk cabbage. The spathe is also different; instead of being flat, it encircles the spadix and mainly exists to protect the flowers. While the Flamingo Lily differs from both the Jack-in-the-pulpit and the Eastern Skunk Cabbage, the similarities that point to familial relationships are evident. Below, you can see the described similarities and differences between these plants and the Flamingo Lily.

(Anthurium andraeanum): Ecology

The Flamingo Lily provides humans with many resources, from being a decorative pop of color in homes to sustaining a floriculture industry. This plant is native to Colombia and Ecuador but was brought to Hawaii in 1889 by a man named Samuel Damon, who planted them around his estate. After this introduction, people started growing the Flamingo Lily as a decorative plant (due to its gorgeous red leaflike spathe) and eventually created a floriculture industry centered around this plant. The cultivation of the Flamingo Lily has boomed in Hawaii, with Anthurium plants emerging as one of the best-selling floriculture products that the state produces. The Flamingo Lily provides many Hawaii residents with a stable income and beautiful decoration. Furthermore, the Flamingo Lily has become known as the "Heart of Hawaii," suggesting that many residents regard it as part of their home.

However, growing the Flamingo Lily comes with hardships. Flamingo Lily is susceptible to a bacterial blight caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae (XAD). This infection first causes yellowing of the leaves, and then attacks the vascular system (the nutrient delivery system) of the plant. XAD is an extremely contagious and fatal infection and can cause the death of 50 to 100% of a crop. This can cause severe economic consequences, and in the 1980s, cut the production of Anthurium plants in Hawaii in half and effectively shut down many small floriculture businesses. The industry recovered, but many small farms did not.

To combat this blight, there are several suggestions. Disinfecting cutting tools, removing affected leaves, and increasing airflow are several strategies that can be used. Furthermore, bacteria-resistant strains of A. andraeanum are being researched as potential solutions to the blight.