Caladium steudneriifolium
€60,00
12

Caladium steudneriifolium is a rare aroid part of the family of Araceae.

They are often known by the common name elephant ear (which they share with the closely related genera Alocasia, Colocasia and Xantasoma), heart of Jesus, and angel wings.

They grow in open areas of the forest and on the banks of rivers and go dormant during the dry season. When the plant is kept as a houseplant, this means it will go dormant during the winter months. At that point, the bulb should be removed from the soil and kept in a dry place. It can be replanted in spring after which the impressive leaves will show again.

C. steudneriifolium has been the subject of a research in 2008 by Ulf Soltau, Stefan Dötterl & Sigrid Liede-Schumann.
The plant feigns sickness to stop it being attacked by insect pests known as mining moths, which would otherwise eat its healthy leaves.
​The scientists noticed that the plain green leaves of a plant known as C. steudneriifolium were far more frequently damaged by mining moths than those of variegated leaves of the same species nearby.
​To test the idea, the researchers used white correction fluid to mimic the appearance of variegation on hundreds of healthy leaves. The results were the same.
​Variegation occurs most commonly when cells in the leaf lose chlorophyll and their ability to photosynthesise, appearing white. 
In theory, plants with variegated leaves should be at a disadvantage, because of this restricted ability to photosynthesise. This research suggests this may not be true after all. Instead, some variegated plants may be mimicking illness to avoid being eaten, putting themselves at an advantage.

HEIGHT AND CONDITION

We offer each plant individually for sale. This means the plant you see is the plant you will receive.

Please note that the first 2-3 images are general as a showcase for the plant and are not of the plant for sale. To see the exact plant, click one of the variants for sale ("Pick your plant baby").

If the plants have been up for sale for a while, this means the plant can be bigger than displayed, or has lost or gained leaves.
The colors on the pictures on our overview page are more true-to-color than the individual plant pictures.

PACKAGING AND SHIPPING

Each plant is individually boxed in a custom designed container made of 100% recycled cardboard. For more info, click here.
We ship in most countries in Europe, please check our information page about shipping here.

€60,00
12

Caladium steudneriifolium is a rare aroid part of the family of Araceae.

They are often known by the common name elephant ear (which they share with the closely related genera Alocasia, Colocasia and Xantasoma), heart of Jesus, and angel wings.

They grow in open areas of the forest and on the banks of rivers and go dormant during the dry season. When the plant is kept as a houseplant, this means it will go dormant during the winter months. At that point, the bulb should be removed from the soil and kept in a dry place. It can be replanted in spring after which the impressive leaves will show again.

C. steudneriifolium has been the subject of a research in 2008 by Ulf Soltau, Stefan Dötterl & Sigrid Liede-Schumann.
The plant feigns sickness to stop it being attacked by insect pests known as mining moths, which would otherwise eat its healthy leaves.
​The scientists noticed that the plain green leaves of a plant known as C. steudneriifolium were far more frequently damaged by mining moths than those of variegated leaves of the same species nearby.
​To test the idea, the researchers used white correction fluid to mimic the appearance of variegation on hundreds of healthy leaves. The results were the same.
​Variegation occurs most commonly when cells in the leaf lose chlorophyll and their ability to photosynthesise, appearing white. 
In theory, plants with variegated leaves should be at a disadvantage, because of this restricted ability to photosynthesise. This research suggests this may not be true after all. Instead, some variegated plants may be mimicking illness to avoid being eaten, putting themselves at an advantage.

HEIGHT AND CONDITION

We offer each plant individually for sale. This means the plant you see is the plant you will receive.
If the plants have been up for sale for a while, this means the plant can be bigger than displayed.

PACKAGING AND SHIPPING

Each plant is individually boxed in a custom designed container made of 100% recycled cardboard. For more info, click here.
We ship in most countries in Europe, please check our information page about shipping here.

CARE TIPS

Most of the plants don't require specialised equipment or tools to thrive, yet they do long for sufficient TLC. 
As the plants grow and thrive in their native habitat - the tropical rainforest - it is beneficial to provide increased air humidity. For tips and tricks for your specific plant baby, please check our blog pages.

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