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Evergreen climber
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Useful in corners, along walls or in hanging baskets, syngonium thrives well on a moss stick
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The syngonium is also known as the arrowhead plant.
FORMERLY KNOWN as nephytis, syngonium are evergreen root climbers from woodlands in South America. They belong to the family araceae.
Like the climbing philodendrons, syngoniums are peculiar in that the leaves produced by the mature plants are different in shape from those produced by young specimens. The alternate leaves are initially single and ovate to triangle, becoming larger, long stalked arrowhead, then three to five lobed as the plants mature.
As syngonium ages, it carries both types of leaves and it also gradually develops a climbing or trailing stem, which can either be trained up stakes on moss sticks pushed into the potting mixture, stems of young plants are slender and fleshy and have prominent notes.
Give syngonium bright filtered light throughout the year. Never subject them to direct sun. Use good soil mixed with coarse leaf mould. Water moderately.
Syngonium podophyllum is compact, sparsely branched when young with juvenile leaves seven to 10 cms long, ovate with heart-shaped bases. There are a number of varieties of syngonium podophyllum. One of the best-known forms is SP Emerald gem, a compact variety with shorter leaf stalks and crinkled green leaves with lighter zones along the length of the veins. Variegatum has leaves splashed with creamy white.
Propagation is by tip cuttings. Top dress once a year with fresh mixture. For hanging baskets, plant two or three groups in each basket.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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