Adelonema wallisii, a small plant with marbled foliage

It's said that to name an object wrongly is to add unhappiness to the world. If Albert Camus is right, then Adelonema wallisii is a major contributor to human misery. This plant, native to Costa Rica and Colombia, is commonly sold under the label "Homalomena wallisii". Like Homalomena rubescens, this variety belongs to the Araceae family, but is classified in the Adelonema genus, not the Homalomena.

Adelonema wallisii is a perennial with a compact, bushy habit. It grows to no more than 25 centimetres in height.

The plant has a rhizomatous stump from which emerge short, arching stems.

The leathery leaves measure from thirteen to twenty centimetres. Obovate or elliptical, they have tapering tips. The botanical variety has bright green blades, plain or variegated with light green. It is rarely sold or grown as a houseplant. On the other hand, cultivars with green, white or yellow marbled foliage Adelonema wallisii 'Camouflage) are commercially available.

Adelonema wallisii flowers, even indoors. The inflorescence appears on an even shorter stem than the leaves. The burgundy spathe and white spadix are often concealed within the foliage.

Like other plants in the Araceae family, Adelonema wallissi is toxic. Its sap contains calcium oxalate crystals. This substance causes skin irritation and digestive problems. You should therefore keep your specimen out of reach of your pets, and wear gloves when pruning it.