TA [Stripey × (magnificum × papillilaminum)] × Ree Gardens papillilaminum

Bred by Nice Plants Good Pots in South Louisiana, this plant combines a hybrid from the late Tim Anderson’s breeding lines with Ree Gardens papillilaminum. Tim is known for his Wonderboy project and for breeding Black Widow and Stripey. The Ree Gardens pap is known for its tall, wide lobes, a plant discovered in Panama by Marie and Steve Nock in 1976. I acquired this plant from my friend Griffinthurium. Its nickname, “Triage,” was chosen by Miranda “Plantyweeb”’s audience in a nod to its complex parentage.

Triage’s lineage is a lot to fit on a tag, but the leaf makes an introduction of its own. Its dark blade stretches to a long point beneath tall, upright lobes. Fine, neon veins run from the sinus toward the margins, giving the leaf definition without overwhelming its deep color. The name captures the fun of tracing this plant’s family tree: a Tim Anderson Stripey hybrid on one side, the storied Ree Gardens pap on the other, and a South Louisiana breeder who brought them together.

What I enjoy most is the balance of its shape and veining. The lobes give it a strong silhouette, while the delicate vein pattern rewards a closer look. “Triage” suits a plant with this much history behind one leaf.