Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Araceae
Genus: Syngonium
Species: Syngonium podophyllum
Common Names: Arrowhead Plant, Arrowhead Vine, Goosefoot.
Introduction
Goosefoot Vine (Syngonium podophyllum), commonly known as arrowhead vine, is a fast-growing vine found in tropical woods throughout North and South America, as well as Mexico. Its lovely leaves make it an excellent houseplant, but it has also been planted in gardens in warmer parts of South Africa, where it has become invasive. When planted indoors, the leaves are normally variegated green with white, but when grown outdoors, they get greener and larger, reaching up to 30 cm.
Characteristics
1. Arrowhead vine is a creeping or climbing plant that spreads quickly.
2. The size, shape, and color of its alternating, three-lobed, arrow-shaped leaves change with age and cultivar variation.
3. The veins or center of the juvenile leaves are silvery-white and surrounded by green.
4. The leaves of young plants are whole, but they form a heart shape at the base and then get segmented into three leaflets, with the longest one in the center, as they age
5. Mature leaves are dark green and divided into three leaflets, with 5–9 leaflets developing with age.
6. The leaflet in the center is the longest. In leaf axils, four to eleven flower spikes (spadixes) with 6–9 green tubular blooms each develop, each enclosed in a creamy-white to green modified leaf (a spathe), similar to that of an arum ‘lily’.
7. The fruit is reddish-orange, with many black or brown seeds embedded in soft, greyish flesh.
8. young Plants do not climb, but as they mature, they develop adventitious roots that allow them to reach heights of up to ten meters. From July to late fall, spathe-like blooms
9. Goosefoot has been classified as an intruder in South Africa, and it must be controlled or exterminated whenever possible in the provinces of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.
Morphology
Habit: Syngonium podophyllum starts as small herbaceous mounds 12 to 18 inches tall that gradually develop sprawling, pendent, or climbing branches to an indeterminate length; vine lengths of up to 100 feet have been reported in the tropics; plants can form groundcovers or climb via the development of wire-like aerial rootlets; the overall texture is medium-coarse to coarse.
Foliage: Alternate, evergreen, simple to palmately complex lobed leaves are prominent. leaves are cordate to hastate at first, becoming more palmate as the plant matures. The glabrous blades are green, often with suffusely mottled variegation on cultivated selections; bases are cordate to hastate on juvenile leaves; margins are entire with acute to acuminate tips; the glabrous blades are green, often with suffusely mottled variegation on cultivated selections; leaves are highly variable in morphology; bases are cordate to hastate on juvenile leaves; margins are entire with acute to acuminate tips. Variegation occurs in a wide range of green tints, as well as white, cream, and less frequently pink to copper colors. The veins are palmate, with the central vein dominating on immature leaves, giving the overall venation a pinnate look. Juvenile leaves are smaller, typically 4 to 6 inches long and simple or three-lobed, whereas mature leaves can be up to 14 inches long and have five to eleven pinnate or palmate lobes; veins are often reddish and slightly impressed above; veins are united into a rim shortly inside the margin; veins are united into a rim shortly inside the margin; Variegation patterns are more likely to be present on juvenile leaves and may or may not be stable on mature foliage. Petioles increase from about 4 in juvenile plants to as much as 24 in mature plants; foliage is generally dense and attractive. variegation patterns are more likely to be present on juvenile leaves and may or may not be stable on mature foliage.
Flower: Tiny greenish-white monoecious flowers are produced on a short stout axillary spadix, with male flowers above and female flowers below, 4 to 5 long greenish-white to creamy white Aladin’s lampshaped to boat-shaped spathe surrounds the spadix, noticeable but not overly ornamental when produced.
Fruit: Fruit are elongated spindle-shaped berries with a long arching peduncle, the peduncle is moderately stout increasing in thickness until it splays to form the top of the berry, the peduncle is moderately stout increasing in thickness until it splays to form the top of the berry; the peduncle is moderately stout increasing in thickness until it splays to form the top of the Fruit are 2 to 3 long suspended from a similar length peduncle, seeds are brown to black at maturity, fruit starts a dark rich green color and the berry ripens to a bright red with a papery brownish sheath while the peduncle remains a dark green then senesces; fruit is 2 to 3 long suspended from a similar length peduncle;
Stems / Bark: Stems — the stout dark green stems may become splotched with a light tan as they age, sheaths are present at the base of the leaves, green to tan aerial rootlets may emerge at the nodes after a time; stems contain a milky sap; stems contain a milky sap, stems contain a milky sap, stems contain a milky sap, stems contain a milky sap Buds – if buds do not lengthen quickly after creation, they are effectively encapsulated in the stem. Old 2 to 3 diameter trunks have been reported to grow woody, bark —trunks remain a smooth dark green or splotched tint for a lengthy time.
The ease with which this species can be cultured accounts in part for its popularity as a container or interiorscape plant in tropical landscapes and abroad. Drought and salinity tolerances are low; best growth is in acidic to neutral soils or organic substrates; regular fertilization improves growth in both interior and exterior environments; soils or substrates should be well-drained but maintained with a steady supply of moisture; drought and salinity tolerances are low; Plants will withstand partial sun to moderate shade if acclimated and enough moisture is given. In interiorscape contexts, senescent vegetation must be removed regularly, while this is not always necessary outside; S. podophyllum is a fast grower in the tropics, despite its slow growth indoors.
Ornamental Values: The principal value of this plant is its evergreen or variegated leaf in a variety of morphologies, flowers and fruit can add appeal where they form, but they are uncommon in our location.
Culture
This species grows in subtropical to tropical climates, and the plants are shoot hardy in the open air. It grows well as a houseplant in warm, humidified environments. Prefers bright, indirect light. Keep out of direct sunlight. It can be cultivated in a hanging basket or on a moss pole. During the growing season, water as needed, but from fall until late winter, waterless. It grows best in a potting mix that is based on soil. The plant prefers high humidity, therefore place it in a humidified area or on a tray of moist pebbles.
Pathological Issues
The edges of the foliage become necrotic under low humidity or drought stress, there are a few major insect or disease problems, bacterial leaf spots, soft rot, aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites are occasionally issues, particularly in greenhouse or interiorscape environments.
Control
Manual control
Remove all roots and stem fragments from solitary plants and small infestations by hand. To avoid reshooting, plant fragments should be packed and thrown away or hung up off the ground.
Herbicide control
In Queensland, no herbicide products for arrowhead vine management have been approved. However, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has issued a permit that authorizes persons to use certain herbicide chemicals to control arrowhead vine as an environmental weed in a variety of scenarios.
THE CONCERN
The vine loves wet, shady locations, although it may thrive in a variety of habitats, from woodlands to roadside ditches, if the conditions are perfect. In fact, under optimal conditions, the vine will take root everywhere it comes into contact with soil, and has even been seen growing in tree forks. Once established, its creeping behavior allows it to develop as a groundcover before growing into nearby trees, smothering the canopy and shading the plants below. Goosefoot may thus outcompete native plants, resulting in changes to an area’s ecosystem and biodiversity. The vine reproduces both vegetatively and by seed production.
THE SOLUTION
No herbicide has been approved for use on goosefoot yet. Herbicides such as gyphosate, triclopyr, and others have been employed, however, they all require follow-up treatments to achieve eradication. Small infestations can be mechanically removed, but caution should be exercised when handling the milky sap, which is toxic and can cause skin irritations or poisoning if consumed. To prevent stems and roots from resprouting, plants must be destroyed by placing them in black bags and leaving them to decay in the sun. Biological control, like with other invasive plant species, is the only long-term and cost-effective method. However, no promising biocontrol agents for goosefoot vine have been found.
TOP QUESTIONS
Questions: Can we grow Arrowhead Plant Indoor?
ANS: It grows in subtropical to tropical climates, and the plants are shoot hardy in the open air. It grows well as a houseplant in warm, humidified environments.
Question: How can we Cultivate Arrowhead Plant?
ANS: It can be cultivated in a hanging basket or on a moss pole. During the growing season, water as needed, but from fall until late winter, waterless. It grows best in a potting mix that is based on soil. The plant prefers high humidity, therefore place it in a humidified area or on a tray of moist pebbles.
Question: What is the scientific name of the Arrowhead Plant?
ANS: Syngonium podophyllum
Question: Does Arrowhead Plant need sunlight?
ANS: ItPrefers bright, indirect light. Keep out of direct sunlight.