Philodendron, (genus Philodendron), approximately 450 species of stout-stemmed, climbing herbs of tropical America, which begin life as vines and then transform into epiphytes (plants that live upon other plants).

The foliage of philodendrons is usually green but may be coppery, red, or purplish; parallel leaf veins are usually green or sometimes red or white. Shape, size, and texture of the leaves vary considerably, depending on species and maturity of the plant. The fruit is a white to orange berry. Juvenile and adult phases differ, making it almost impossible to identify different species of small plants. Because many young philodendrons are adapted to the low light levels of rainforests, they are popular potted plants for homes and offices.

Most philodendrons are great climbers, usually growing upward by wrapping their modified roots around the trunks of trees. Once they work their way to the canopy they often transform themselves into epiphytes. Plants with this life strategy are called secondary hemiepiphytes, and they include a similar group of well-known house plants that are sometimes called philodendrons, the monsteras (genus Monstera).

Unlike most plants, the seedlings of hemiepiphytes do not grow toward the Sun; instead they grow toward a tree trunk. Once there, they shift to a light-seeking strategy as they climb to the top using modified roots. Eventually the stem dies at the tree base, severing its connection with the soil.

Sources1234