The Exotic Rainforest

is a Private Botanical Garden

The garden is open to the public free of charge.

Some of the tropical Aroids and other genera in the Collection

Listed by the scientific name of each species along with a common name if available.

New plant descriptions and photos are frequently added. Click on any name below to see a photo and read a description.

If you are seeking information on any specimen scroll to the appropriate section below. For sake of accuracy all plants in the Exotic Rainforest collection are in alphabetical order by scientific name since the majority have no common name. Common names are included beneath the scientific name when appropriate. The name of the botanist that described the plant to science in accepted botanical abbreviation is included since many scientific names have been published multiple times. Without the author's name there is no way of knowing if the publication is accepted and correct. Think of it as trying to look up the name "John Smith". If you don't know Mr. Smith's full legal name the chances are slim you will find the correct individual. Many early botanists made frequent errors and with names such as "Philodendron cannifolium" were used inaccurately to describe a variety of plants in error. Those plants were actually in other genera and were not the species most people are seeking. Read this page for a full explanation:: Philodendron martianum Engler Common names as well as many names that sound Latin are not published in science and are simply "made-up". Frequently used plant names are frequently synonyms (same plant but a name published after the accepted name) and are included beneath the accepted scientific name. The accepted name is the name that should be used.



We strive to use the current botanically accepted name and the spelling on each page is verified on either the International Plant Names Index (a service of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London) or TROPICOS (a service of the Missouri Botanical Garden).



We do not use common names as the correct name nor any name taken from the horticultural texts Tropica and Exotica since many in those texts have been proven to be inaccurate. Mr. Graf's texts are somewhat acceptable resources for growers but are poor sources for botanically accurate information.



There are nearly 300 plant species in the Exotic Rainforest collection with the majority being aroids (Araceae). Nearly half of those have yet to be described on this site. We use scientific language but always attempt to explain it in easily understood terms so anyone can understand our explanations.



An in the list indicates a rare tropical plant that is either not often found in nature or difficult for collectors to obtain.

New: Understanding, pronouncing and using Botanical terminology, a Glossary