Common name: Arrowhead Plant, Hongngu (Manipuri)

Botanical name: Syngonium podophyllum - [ (sin-GO-nee-um) from the Greek syn (with, together) and goné (womb), referring to the united ovaries; (po-do-FIL-um) stout or thick leaf or petiole ] Synonym: Syngonium nepthytis Cultivar: Imperial White Family: Araceae (aroid, or arum family) - [ (a-RAY-see-ay) the Aroid or Arum family ]

Origin: Mexico to Panama

Arrowhead plants are such interesting indoor plants to have earned several fun common names, including arrowhead plants, five-fingers, Nephytis (after the Greek mythological figure Nephthys) and goosefoot. Some of the common names refer to the shape of the leaves at different stages of development. Grown as houseplants since at least 1881, they are closely related to the philodendron. Though the ancestors of these lovely plants from tropical Mexico and central America were mostly plain green, there are new varieties with subtle shades of bronze and pink seeming to blush onto the leaf-blade from the region of the stem.

Syngoniums look great grown alone or can add character to a mixed planting. They even make a good substitute for caladiums in the summer garden. Arrowhead plants will spill out of a hanging basket when they are young or climb a pole as they mature. When they mature the arrowhead shape of the leaves changes and lobes develop at the base of the leaves. The older the plant is, the more lobes the full-sized leaves will have. Because the sap from syngonium is an irritant, it will appear on lists of poisonous plants. Flowers are on upright calyxes covered by a green leaf-like spathe.

Courtesy: - Flowers of India - Top Tropicals - Dave's Garden - ZipCode Zoo