Anthurium cubense

Native from southeastern Mexico through Central America to Colombia and Venezuela, and also to Cuba, this perennial herb grows on trees or in the ground. A short stem supports dense roots and tightly grouped leaves with short stalks. The inflorescences are substantially shorter than the foliage. Their thick, tapering spadices range from pale violet-purple to purplish, and the developing berries become bright red. It occurs in tropical dry forest as well as moister forest habitats. Each berry usually contains one seed, sometimes two, with a sticky, jelly-like appendage. Photographed in Colombia.