Florida is home to an abundance of tropical Epiphytes (non-parasitic “air-plants”) that live and grow on larger “host” trees. You’ve already seen my garden’s tillandsias, bromeliads, orchids and ferns–but I’ve neglected to share our lone hemiepiphyte:arrow:an Epipremnum aureum that’s beginning to merge with its Queen Palm host:
Epipremnum aureum aka Golden Pothos 🙂
I started this plant two winters ago from stem tip cuttings received at a yard sale. Because Palms have rope-like roots extending through the ground at shallow depths, I couldn’t dig deep holes for my new cuttings; instead, I propped them along the base of the trunk, anchored them with 3″ of moistened Miracle Gro Cactus/Palm Potting Soil, and pressed the concoction HARD! against the tree-trunk 😛
Let the merge begin!
Is this what they mean by stuck in rut?
The picture above illustrates Pothos different types of roots. On the right-hand side of the dark green stem are 4 adventitious roots through which the plant obtains nutrition and water. Cylindrical aerial roots grow from nodes on the main stem and merge with the host tree, allowing the plant to trail or climb. If an aerial root reaches the ground during rainy season, it will oftentimes root, form another stem and repeat the life cycle! 🙂
From root to stem and back again!
If allowed to climb, Epipremnum Aureum changes shape as it gains height. Upper leaves are more feathered than their heart-shaped, lower counterparts; they also measure wider and longer than ones near the ground.
These leaves are 7″L x 6″W : twice as big as those on the bottom.
Golden Pothos is part of the Aroid family, a group of plants well suited to indoor/container gardens…. but……buyer beware! 😮 Big box stores and corporate nurseries commonly mislabel Epipremnums as “Philodendrons” which DO look rather similar. Learn how to spot the difference by reading this excellent article:
I hope you enjoyed this “Weedly” Challenge! 🙂
Until next time…..
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4 thoughts on “Weekly Photo Challenge: Merge”
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small house/BIG GARDEN 
I remeber seeing goldon pothos growing wild in Florida that was 30 feet tall with leaves the size of umbrellas. It was pretty remarkable! It looks like your’s is going to do the same.
what a great topic for the theme merge! I find air plants fascinating
This is a beautiful tropical plant. I have several of them growing wildly in my parent’s old mango tree, with ferns and bromeliads, it looks like a mini-tropical jungle!