Panamanian jungle plants
Commentary by Nils Weissies
Nils Weeschies studied evolutionary biology at a university in the Netherlands and is involved in herbarium and field research. He loves the small herbs of the tropical rainforest, especially the Araceae family, and this is the story of his eight-day journey through the jungles of Panama, as well as the borders of Costa Rica in the west and Colombia in the east, to explore the native habitats of these plants in South America.
Tiny plants hiding in the Panamanian jungle
It's April 2022, and after an 11-hour direct flight from the Netherlands, I arrive in the chaotic, busy city of Panama City. I set off at dawn for my first destination, Valle de Anton, famous for its colonies of Anthurium wendlingeri, a plant with its typical spiral flowers and long, slender leaves. Dozens of Anthurium wendlingeri dangle from tall trees in the moist forest along the winding road. My friend also points out a surprising plant: a Monstera titanum, whose flowers are bigger than my head. But time is limited, so I head straight to my next destination: Santa Fe National Park.
Anthurium wendlingeri
Anthurium wendlingeri
This famous drooping anthurium grows only on very tall trees in damp places or above rivers. Its elongated, patterned leaves can reach up to 2 meters in length, and its inflorescences are twisted like a corkscrew.
Philodendron verrucosum
Philodendron verrucosum
This was one of the first plants I came across on my journey through the Panamanian jungle, discovered in Valle de Anton. The leaves were large and beautifully patterned, with very hairy petioles.
Elafoglossum peltatum standard type
Elaphoglossum peltatum f. peltatum
This is a typical Elaphoglossum peltatum, which has a wide variety of leaf shapes. It is widely distributed throughout Panama and can be seen in various places from west to east.
When we arrived in Santa Fe, at higher altitudes, we saw the same Anthurium wendlingeri. However, the leaves of the one growing there were much wider and shorter. On our way to the north coast, we came across a large waterfall along the road. Intrigued, we went into the forest, and my friends soon found an Anthurium nearby. But what caught my eye were the rocks surrounding the waterfall. There, we found Araceae plants that have adapted to mountain stream environments, such as Anthurium rupicola and Spathiphyllum quindiense. These plants are similar to Homalomena and Schismatoglottis, and grow on rocks that are constantly surrounded by moist air.
Anthurium rupicola
Anthurium rupicola
I found this Anthurium near a waterfall. It has thick leaves and is adapted to grow on the rocks of rivers and waterfalls. It grows in clusters on a single rock. It reminds me of the Heteroaridum I found in Borneo.
Geppertia Dreslerii
Goeppertia dressleri
This perennial plant grows wild from Panama to northwestern Colombia. In the dark forests of Guna Yala, many plants have dark leaves with red undersides, an adaptation that allows them to capture more light in low light conditions.
Dicranopygium minimum
Dicranopygium minimum
A recently described new species of Dicranopygium. It grows on rocky cliffs along streams. At 15cm tall, it is the smallest known Dicranopygium.
Later, I found a fallen branch on a rock near the waterfall and began my search for my favorite small epiphytic orchids. These orchids thrive in the humid environment near waterfalls and grow on sunny treetops. They usually grow in places that are hard to reach, but the fallen branch presented an opportunity to find them. The branch was densely covered with lichens, mosses, and ferns, including the famous Elaphoglossum peltatum. There were over 10 species of orchids alone, including a Platysterae teilorii, smaller than my thumbnail! Then, I spotted something strange dangling from a branch: a bright purple leaf that looked almost artificial. Turning the leaf over, I realized it, too, was an orchid! It was a Lepanthes pantomimema—a mysterious orchid that is rarely found and rarely photographed. And so, my day of exploration came to an end, and I left the forest before sunset.
Elaphoglossum peltatum
Elaphoglossum peltatum
As you can see by comparing it with the one on the previous page, this is an unusual form of Elaphoglossum peltatum. The leaves are very thick and fleshy, with rounded tips. I personally really like this one.
Lepantes Pantomima
Lepanthes pantomima
I found this miniature orchid at a waterfall on the way from Santa Fe to the north coast. It's completely purple and very rare. It's closely related to the Ecuadorian Lepanthes calodiction, but this one is more beautiful.
Anthurium dresseri
Anthurium dressleri
This is one of the most expensive anthuriums, and this type is unique to this region. The leaves are dark green with a velvety texture, and the inflorescences are a beautiful yellow. They have a large white spathe.
Pilea unknown species
Pilea sp.
An unknown species of Pilea with dark leaves growing on a sandstone cliff. This hairy Pilea grows only in the lowlands of the Colon region of Panama. This place is hotter than Borneo, where I had been before.
Rhodospatha unknown species
Rhodospatha sp.
A young, unidentified species of Rhodospatha with beautiful colors. This beautiful color disappears when it matures. It has a cute terrestrial appearance until it finds a plant to attach to, but once attached, its leaves can grow up to 1m.
We're reaching the halfway point of our journey. After several days of driving, we reach the famous El Llano-Carti Road. This historic road, the only inland-to-sea route east of Panama City, cuts through the biodiverse jungles of Guna Yala. It's a prime research site for scientists, and its ecosystem has been well documented. Here we can see Dicranopygium "Guna Yala" and Anthurium cunayarense. We arrive at the lodge late at night to find it closed, and after some negotiation, we settle for $80 per person in a room with no electricity, running water, or toilet. Stray dogs keep us up all night.
The next morning, we set out in search of plants. Within minutes of entering the forest, we found a Dicranopygium "Guna Yala." It's a small plant with jet-blue leaves, with red petioles and undersides. With each step, we found more and more Dicranopygium, until the ground was covered with thousands of them—so many that we had to step on them to move forward.
Upon maturity, Dicranopygium inflorescences explode, automatically scattering thousands of seeds around the mother plant and forming massive colonies. Among the clusters, I found a single large, shiny Dicranopygium sadisticium, with leaves that are an even mix of black and red. This color, like that of Monorena dresleyi and Geppertia dresleyi, which grow wild in the same river, is thought to be an adaptation to low light. Standing among the jet-black plants, surrounded by the quiet buzz of the forest, I felt as if I had stepped into a hidden world.
Dicranopygium "Guna Yala"
Dicranopygium "Guna Yala"
Dicranopygium cf. haringii growing in colonies on the riverbed of Guna Yala. The population was so large that it formed a carpet-like structure similar to that of an unknown species of Bucephalandra.
Monorena Dressleri
Monolena dressleri
This small plant of the Melastomataceae family is native to Panama and grows along humid rivers. Its small, jet-black leaves and slow growth make it a beautiful plant for terrariums.
Asplenium holoflebium
Asplenium holophlebium
Native to South America, this miniature fern grows on rocks and branches along riverbanks. It requires high humidity to survive, so terrariums are the best place to grow it at home.
Phloeophila peperomioides
Phloeophila peperomioides
I found this small, fleshy epiphytic orchid on a mountaintop shrouded in clouds. The flowers are covered in hairs, making it very unique. The Phloeophila genus is made up of only six species, and this is one of them.
Platystere tylorii
Platystele taylorii
This plant was found growing on a fallen branch near a waterfall on the way from Santa Fe to the north coast. It is extremely small, only about 1cm in length, and barely noticeable. It is one of the smallest orchids in the world.
