Tailflower Anthurium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-THUR-ee-um
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Evergreen tropical perennial shrub to 3', upright and multi-stemmed. Common houseplant Anthuriums are grown for their brightly colored flower spathes and their ornamental leaves. They need bright but indirect light.
Blooms in wild tropical areas in spring to summer; desired in interiors for long-lasting, pink to reddish inflorescence and erect, deep green leaves; spadix is at right angle to spathe and is twisted like a corkscrew in some species; used in interiorscapes as specimen or temporary flowering display.
Prefers medium to high light, moist soil and low to medium relative humidity; no serious pest problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- Spadix and pink to reddish spathe are at right angles
- Leaves are leathery, with truncate to cordate base
- Short stems develop as plant ages
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Anthurium
- Family:
- Araceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico to Tropical America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- A globose berry.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are small, in a slender (white, green, or yellow) spadix with a spathe below which may be shiny red, white, or other colors. Spathes are heart-shaped and waxy. A spadix, erect, cylindric, often tapering, sometimes twisted; spathe persistent, in right angle to spadix, usually flat, sometimes hooded, erect, spreading or reflexed, margins not overlapping at base, colorful, usually pink to red; scape long, taller than foliage.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- This perennial herb has dark green, heart-shaped, and leathery leaves. Alternate, simple, crowded, cordate to lanceolate, acute, truncate to subcordate base, entire or palmately lobed, peltate, moderately coriaceous; petiole usually long, pulvinate at apex.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Short, erect, sometimes elongate, climbing, with adventitious aerial roots.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Poisonous through dermatitis, ingestion, and eye irritant. (Poisonous parts: All parts). Symptoms may include: Irritation of mouth and digestive symptoms if ingested; irritation of skin and eyes following contact with sap.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate crystals
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
