The notation "NE Br" following the official name of Anthurium forgetii refers to the standard botanical practice of abbreviating the name of the botanist who first described the species. In this case, "NE Br" stands for Nathanial Edward Brown, a renowned English botanist. Brown worked extensively on the taxonomy of plants, including the family Araceae, to which the genus Anthurium belongs, during his tenure at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
When a species is formally described in scientific literature, the author's abbreviated name is often included after the species name to acknowledge their contribution to its discovery and description. This practice helps in tracing the taxonomic history of a species and provides recognition to the scientists involved in its classification.
Introduced to the botanical world in 1906, there remains a significant lack of scientific data regarding this particular plant species. The International Plant Names Index (IPNI), maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, does not acknowledge the species as valid, indicating that it was primarily recognized within horticultural circles with scant information available about its wild collection. This obscurity has led to uncertainty regarding the appropriate nomenclature convention, specifically the use of italics for its name.
Anthurium forgetii is reportedly endemic to Colombia, in South America. This species is distinctive for its absence of a sinus, or gap, at the leaf's apex, a feature typically present among many Anthurium species where it forms a separation between the leaf's upper lobes.
Unlike the majority of its genus, Anthurium forgetii is characterized by a continuous leaf margin without lobes or sinus openings. Therefore, caution is advised when consulting images from sources like Google Image Search, Yahoo, and MSN, as many purported depictions of Anthurium forgetii incorrectly show leaves with a sinus. Conducting your own image search may reveal this discrepancy.
The foliage of Anthurium forgetii is oval-shaped, with leaves described as glaucous, giving them a shiny appearance. The surface texture is velutinous, presenting a velvety feel, and the leaves are a deep green color with highly visible white veins. The top surface of the leaf showcases sparkling specks, particularly noticeable near the leaf's central area. In contrast, the bottom surface of a mature leaf displays a lighter shade of green with a semi-glossy finish.
Supporting the leaves, the petioles, or stems, are described as subterete, meaning they are not perfectly round, often showing a slight flattening. This description underscores the plant's unique morphological features, distinguishing it from its relatives within the Anthurium genus.