Tetraspermium

Tetraspermium is a section within the genus Anthurium. It is characterised by plants that are somewhat scandent, with long internodes (the space between each leaf on the stem), and slender stems. Cataphylls are short-lived and thin, and tend to decompose quickly. Leaf blades are generally more or less elliptic and acute at the base usually with numerous primary lateral veins. One or both surfaces of the blade are conspicuously glandular-punctate (with dark dots). The spadix is usually small (generally short) and the berries have 4 or more seeds.

The most typical species of this section is Anthurium scandens. The section Tetrspermium appears to be a very natural section but is one of the smallest with probably fewer than eight species. Sheffer and Kamemoto (1976) attempted numerous interspecific hybridizations using A. scandens and A. trinerve as pollen parents, but none has resulted in hybrids. Due to the unique chromosome number, the inability of A. scandens and A. trinerve to form hybrids with other Anthurium species would be anticipated. Anthurium scandens and A. trinerve cannot easily be used as maternal parents, since they are apparently self-pollinating or apomictic (i.e., capable of producing seed without any form of fertilization or sexual union). [ [http://www.aroid.org/genera/anthurium/anthsections06.html Sections of Anthurium ] ]

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