Anthurium, << an THUR ee um, >> is the name of a large genus (group) of flowering plants native to tropical regions in North and South America. There are hundreds of species (kinds) of anthuriums. They grow wild chiefly in rain forests. They also are cultivated in greenhouses and gardens.
Many wild anthuriums wrap around tree trunks and branches, though some grow along the ground. Most anthuriums have large evergreen leaves shaped like hearts. In some species, the leaves are lobed or separated into fingerlike leaflets. Anthuriums bear small flowers tightly packed on a cylindrical, fleshy stalk called a spadix. The spadix rises from a shiny, leaflike spathe, which is often brightly colored.
A commonly cultivated anthurium is the pink flamingo, also called flamingo lily. This plant has a bright pink spathe that lasts several weeks. Gardeners also grow anthuriums for their attractive leaves. The leaf veins of some species are outlined in pale green to silvery-white against a dark green or purple background.
