Philodendron squamiferum
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{speciesbox
|image = Philodendron squamiferum - Berlin Botanical Garden - IMG 8719.JPG
|genus = Philodendron
|species = squamiferum
|authority = Poepp. & Engl.
}}
Philodendron squamiferum, known as Squamiferum for short, is a rare species of plant in the family Araceae, native to French Guiana, Suriname, and northern Brazil.[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=151967 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]Marc Gibernau and Denis Barabé, "Pollination ecology of Philodendron squamiferum (Araceae)", Can. J. Bot. 80: 316–320 (2002) This climbing plant has leaves with five lobes and has a climbing growth habit. It is well known among Philodendron species for its distinctive reddish stalks, which are covered in small bristles that give it a hairy appearance.{{Cite book|last=Bown|first=Deni|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vIbwAAAAMAAJ&q=aroids|title=Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family|publisher=Timber Press|year=2000|isbn=978-0-88192-485-5|pages=217–218|language=en}}
Description
Philodendron squamiferum is a rare houseplant with unique five-lobed (five-partite) dark green leaves and a scaly reddish petiole.
Toxicity
Philodendron squamiferum is toxic because of the presence of calcium oxalate crystals.{{cite book |last1=Quattrocchi |first1=Umberto |title=CRC world dictionary of medicinal and poisonous plants: common names, scientific names, eponyms, synonyms, and etymology |date=2012 |publisher=CRC press |location=Boca Raton |isbn=9781420080445 |page=2879}} Oxalate crystals can cause pain and swelling upon contact with the skin or mouth, and pain, swelling, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing if ingested.{{cite web |title=Plants That Irritate |url=https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/poison-control-center/plants-irritate |website=Children's Hospital of Philadelphia |access-date=26 October 2023 |language=en |date=5 May 2014}}