Anthurium cubense Engl.

Synonym: Anthurium recusatum

 

This article uses scientific terminology but an explanation of the terms is given.  Please do not exit this page simply because of terminolgy, you may learn something new that will help you understand your plant better.

Anthurium cubense is found in Cuba and drier parts of eastern Guatemala and Yucatan on the Atlantic slope, and in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama on the Pacific slope. In South America, it extends along the Caribbean coast from western Venezuela to Colombia, with one outlying collection known from the Rio Patia in southern Colombia. It occurs in tropical dry forest, drier parts of tropical moist forest, and premontane (pre-mountainous) wet forest from sea level to 700 m. It is most common in Cuba and Nicaragua.

Based on information from the Royal Botanic Garden Kew in London's CATE Araceae Project, this species is recognized by its short petioles, short inflorescences (much shorter than the leaves), its stubby, purplish to pale violet-purple spadix that is tapered toward the apex (or sometimes toward both ends), and by its bright red berries.   However, before declaring your specimen to be this species you should also compare the characteristics described below.  If you believe you are growing a specimen of Anthurium cubense check the detail photos closely against the structure of your specimen and follow this article closely since you may learn you are instead growing an Anthurium hybrid or a totally different species.  The information in this article was taken from Dr. Croat's journal Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 1991, Volume 78, #3 and the scientific treatment can be found on page 637.

An aroid, all Anthurium species reproduces via the production of an inflorescence.  That inflorescence is supported by a stalk known as the peduncle.  When an Anthurium is "in flower" the reference is to the tiny flowers containing both male and female sexual parts that grow on the spadix at the center of the inflorescence.  Unlike plants in the genus Philodendron which contain imperfect flowers having only a single sex Anthurium possess perfect flowers containing both sexes.  To help prevent self pollination nature has designed the female flowers to be receptive before the male portion of the flower produce their pollen so in most cases an insect must bring pollen from another plant.

The spathe of an aroid is not a "flower" but instead is a modified leaf that somewhat resembles a hood.  In Anthurium cubense the spathe is green. The spadix at  center of the inflorescence vaguely resembles an elongated pine cone.  The spadix is a spike on a thickened fleshy axis which can produce tiny flowers. 

Once the female portions of the flowers on the spadix are ready to reproduce during anthesis (sexual reproduction) they must be pollinated by a beetle that is a member of the genus Cyclocephala.  The beetle transfers pollen from another specimen currently at male anthesis to a specimen that is receptive at female anthesis however self pollination is possible in Anthurium species.  A link to information from aroid expert Julius Boos can be found near the bottom of this page if you wish to learn how aroids are pollinated in nature.  If pollinated the flowers will produce berries containing seeds.   The berries are then eaten by birds and other rain forest animal species that spread them among the forest in their droppings. 

The inflorescence of Anthurium cubense is erect and the spathe is reflexed (turned back).  The spadix is purple to pale violet purple and once fruit is formed the inflorescence is then known as an infructescence.  The berries of Anthurium cubense are bright red once mature.  However, red berries alone do not indicate a specimen that is truly Anthurium cubense since red berries are common in many Anthurium species.

Of significance (as pointed out by Dr. Croat in one of his personal emails) when attempting to identify the species, both the petioles and inflorescences of Anthurium cubense are short.  As a result, Dr. Croat also points out Anthurium cubense is not easily confused with any other species.  He does also write there is one species with which Anthurium cubense has been confused when he wrote, "Engler (1905) also recognized material of this species under the name A. recussatum Schott from Cuba. That name, however, has been misapplied and actually refers to A. hookeri Kunth from the lesser Antilles and northeastern South America. Anthurium hookeri is not related to A. cubense."   The true Anthurium hookeri produces white berries instead of red and is not a member of section Pachyneurium despite common misconceptions.  At the present time, Dr. Croat considers Anthurium hookeri unique and in a section all its own.   Based on his information, virtually all the plants sold in Florida as a landscape plant are not the species Anthurium hookeri but instead are some hybrid Anthurium form.   You can see a botanical photos of Anthurium hookeri along with botanically accurate information provided by Dr. Croat and French botanist David Scherberich by clicking this link.

According to private emails along with the published from Dr. Croat, manyf photos on the internet plant discussion groups claiming to be Anthurium cubense are not the species and in many cases are simply hybrids of unknown parentage. 

Look closely at Dr. Croat's photograph above and you can clearly see the space between the veins and the limited number of lateral veins (6 to 11) on each side of a blade.  

 

More Anthurium cubense photos and scientific information can be found here: http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/vinales/eng/anthurium_cubense.htm

Anthurium species are known to be highly variable and not every leaf of every specimen will always appear the same, especially when in the juvenile stages.  This link explains natural variation and morphogenesis within aroids and other plants.  Click here.

Aroid Pollination!
As it occurs in nature and by any horticulturist