A spectacular pendent leaf Anthurium from Costa Rica, Anthurium spectabile (spec-TAB-i-lee) has leaves that grow to 5 feet and hang dramatically from the host tree.  The plant is a large tree dwelling epiphyte with an unusually attractive leaf structure.  A. spectabile is normally found in wet pre-mountainous and tropical rain forests at an elevation of 300 to 1300 meters (approximately 1000 to 4000 feet).   The coriacious (thick and leathery) leaves are oblong-triangular or "lanceolate", a botanical term meaning "tapering from a rounded base toward an apex".  They are adorned with rows of easily seen raised silver-white primary lateral veins.  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.

A member of Anthurium section Pachyneurium, this group includes species where both leaf margins are rolled when the plant is in bud.   The upper surface of the leaves are semi-glossy to glossy while the lower surface is also somewhat glossy.  This is one of the largest epiphytic Anthurium sp. in Central America. 

Some information available on the internet says A. spectabile can have leaves that grow up to 20 feet long in the jungles of Costa Rica but no scientific information to support that claim is available in technical scientific texts.  In cultivation the leaves rarely get larger than 150cm (five feet).  The plant grows best in a hanging orchid basket packed with material such as orchid moss that will retain sufficient moisture for the plant's root system.  Experienced growers do not recommend soil.  Anthurium spectabile must be kept away from strong sun and wind to protect its somewhat fragile foliage, especially when leaves are young.  The leaf's coloration can yellow in too bright light.  

Our specimen is nine years old (2008).  The plant currently has leaf blades approaching 90cm (36 inches), just under one meter but each season our A. spectabile tends to produce several new leaves approximately 25cm (10 inches) longer than the previous season.  The petioles which support each leaf are quadrangular which simply means they are 4 sided.  Out specimen was acquired from an avid collector in Florida and at one time the specimen had a leaf over 120cm (four feet long) which was snapped off in one of the 2006 Florida hurricanes.  Since we acquired the plant A. spectabile has added two new leaves each season.  Bright orange berries are said to develop after the plant produces an inflorescence (flower) that are quite colorful.  In the summer of 2007 the Anthurium produced a spathe and spadix. 

This plant has a very similar cousin from Panama known scientifically as A. pseudospectabile Croat.  Our A. spectabile is growing in a large wooden orchid basket with the roots packed with sphagnum moss.  This is one of the most spectacular plants in the Exotic Rainforest.

See Anthurium pseudospectabile here

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

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If you are seeking information on other rare species, click on "Species in the Collection" at the top and look for the