The Carnivorous Plant FAQ v. 12

Q: Philcoxia species

A: Philcoxia currently includes four species.

Philcoxia bahiensis V.C.Souza & Harley
The first of the perennial plants in the genus known, but now the genus has a few additional perennials. Long (10-17 mm) petioles and large orbicular leaf blades (2.5-3 mm) characterize the plant. The inflorescence is about 14-25 cm tall. I am guessing this might be the easiest to grow.

Philcoxia courensis Scatigna
A perennial, similar to P. goiasensis, but with a globose stem; additional globose buds on the root, below the surface, as if the produced lateral branches which aborted.

Philcoxia goiasensis P.Taylor
An annual with short (4 mm) petioles and reniform leaves about 2 mm on a side. Also characterized by short bracts, sepals, and more deeply bilobed corolla lobes. The inflorescence is about 10-15 cm tall.

Philcoxia maranhensis Scatigna
An annual, and similar to P. goiasensis, but with non-peltate, cordiform leaves, glandular/pubescent bracts, and an only slightly bilobed lower corolla lip.

Philcoxia minensis V.C.Souza & Giulietti
An annual with long (14-24 mm) petioles and orbicular leaves about 1.5 mm on a side. The inflorescence is about 17-21 cm tall. This is the species that has been tested for carnivory.

Philcoxia tuberosa M.L.S. Carvalho & L.P.Queiroz
Notable for the presence of tubers, a short inflorescence (60-90 mm), more ramified and shorter internodes, bicolored flowers (purple and white), and sparsely glandular petioles. The discovery paper does not comment on if it is annual or perennial--indeed it doesn't mention this aspect for any of the species.

Philcoxia rhimozatosa Scatigna & V.C.Souza
This perennial species stands out has having larger leaves than other Philcoxia. Generally similar to Philcoxia bahiensis, but the entire inflorescence is glabrous (i.e., lacks glands or hairs). It also has a large, branched rhizome.

Page citations: Carvalho, M.L.S. & Queiroz, L.P. 2014; Pereira, C.G., et al. 2012; Scatinga, A.V. et al. 2015, 2018; Taylor, P., et al. 2000.

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Revised: 2018
©Barry Rice, 2018