Synonym: Podospadix; Strepsanthera.
Genus: ± 1000 species, largest genus of the
Araceae.
English: Anthurium; Tailflower; Flamingo flower; Laceleaf.
Region: Americas, northern Mexico to northern Argentina, Caribbean.
Botany: epiphytes, some are terrestrial; leaves clustered, variable in shape; inflorescence a spadix, elongated into a spike shape, or globe-shaped or club-shaped, with a spathe, a type of bract, variable in shape, lance-shaped in many species, flat or in a curve, sometimes covering the spadix like a hood; flowers many in dense spirals on the spadix, small, perfect, bisexual; fruits juicy berries varying in color, usually containing two seeds.
Content: calcium oxalate crystals.
Use: toxic.