About
Anthurium obtusum is an aroid found widely in Central and South America, from Belize to Bolivia. It is easily mistaken for Anthurium scandens but grows on the ground and keeps its white spathe upright.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Listed as a problem for dogs and cats: contains calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth if chewed. General guidance for the genus
- People
- Poisonous if eaten (low severity): calcium oxalate causes drooling, mouth and lip swelling, trouble swallowing and vomiting; sap irritates skin and eyes. General guidance for the genus
- Light
- Bright, indirect light; direct sun can scorch the leaves, and too little light slows growth and reduces flowering. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Water when the surface of the mix feels dry; rainwater or purified water is preferred. Overwatering leads to root rot. General guidance for the genus
- Humidity
- Warm, very humid air; leaf tips turn brown when humidity is too low. General guidance for the genus
- Temperature
- About 18–29 °C (65–85 °F). General guidance for the genus
- Soil
- Moist but well-drained, slightly acidic mix. General guidance for the genus
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings or seed. General guidance for the genus
- Hardiness
- Tropical; will not survive winter outdoors outside tropical climates. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
A terrestrial plant whose white spathe stays erect, unlike the reflexed spathe of the similar climbing Anthurium scandens.
Distribution & habitat
Widespread in Central and South America from Belize to Bolivia; subspecies puntarenense is native to Costa Rica.
History & etymology
Adolf Engler first described it under the name Anthurium trinerve; it was reclassified as A. obtusum in 1997. Two subspecies are accepted: the more common subsp. obtusum and subsp. puntarenense.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Belize, Costa Rica, Bolivia
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Temperature
- About 18–29 °C (65–85 °F).
- Humidity
- Warm, very humid air; leaf tips turn brown when humidity is too low.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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