Anthurium cubense was originally collected in Cuba in 1898.  That original specimen is now considered the "type" specimen and was the source for much of the scientific material currently in publication.  A. cubense is most commonly found in Cuba or along the drier portions of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.  The species is often found in Guatemala on the Atlantic side and in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama on the Pacific slope.  Anthurium cubense has also been collected in South America in western Venezuela and Colombia near the Caribbean up to 700 meters (2,300 feet) in elevation.  According to information found in one of Dr. Croat's journals, the species is quite rare in nature with the exception of in Nicaragua.  Anthurium species are known to be highly variable and not every leaf of every specimen will always appear the same.  This link explains in greater detail the scientific principals of natural variation and morphogenesis.  Click here.

I often spend a great deal of my personal time reading botanical journals.  Some think I'm more than a bit strange due to how I choose to spend my spare time but for some years learning about the plants I collect has been a passion.  A passion others appear to enjoy along with me.  In this case, (as in many) most of the facts I would have sought to present are already written more concisely than I could ever have attempted to state them by Dr. Tom Croat of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.  Dr. Croat wrote,  "The species is apparently rare except in Nicaragua where it is locally common.  Anthurium cubense is placed in section Pachyneurium and is recognized by its short petioles, short inflorescences (much shorter than the leaves; the peduncle as short as or only slightly longer than the spadix)."

Anthurium species are placed in sections based on the particular characteristics of that given species.  In the case of Anthurium cubense,  botanists have placed this species in section Pachyneurium which contains all the birds nest forms.  The petioles are often referred to by laymen as the "stems" that support the leaves, the inflorescence is the reproductive portion of any aroid (Anthurium species are aroids) and is composed of a spathe and spadix.  The spathe is often thought by those not familiar with botanical terms to be a "flower" and the spadix is the portion at the center of the spathe where the berries, and ultimately the seeds, may grow.  In reality, the spathe is simply a modified leaf whose purpose is to protect that spadix.  And the peduncle is the part of the plant that supports the entire inflorescence.

The leaves of A. cubense are subcoriacious (less than leathery) and can sometimes be slightly purple.  The upper blade surface is semi-glossy and can grow to 26 to 83cm (.85 to 2.7 feet) in length.  One method of determining this species is to count the primary lateral veins found on a leaf surface.  Anthurium cubense possesses 6 to 7 primary lateral veins per side

Anthurium cubense may grow as either an epiphytic or terrestrial specimen and possesses the additional unique feature of often having pubescence near the base.  Pubescence is a botanical term that refers to a feature which appears to be "hair".  Epiphytes are plants that grow upon another plant such as a tree.  The petioles (commonly referred to as stems) typically range from 6cm to 16cm (2.3 to 6.3 inches) in length.  If sliced horizontally, the petiole will demonstrate the appearance of a capital letter "C" or "D" in shape.  The inflorescence is erect and the spathe is reflexed (turned back).  The spadix is purple to pale violet purple and the seed berries of this Anthurium are bright red once mature. 

Of significance (as pointed out by Dr. Croat) when attempting to identify the species, both the petioles and inflorescences are short.  As a result, Dr. Croat points out Anthurium cubense is not easily confused with any other species.  He does point out one species with which Anthurium cubense has been sometimes 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." 

Despite this information, the vast majority of photos on the internet claiming to be Anthurium cubense are not that species.  Look at Dr. Croat's photograph above and you can clearly see the space between the lateral veins and the limited number of veins (6 to 7) on each side of a blade.

Pollinate your own Aroids!
As it occurs in nature and by any horticulturist