About Anthurium scandens (Aubl.) Engl.
Anthurium scandens (Aubl.) Engl. is a plant species belonging to the genus Anthurium. It is native to the region stretching from Mexico to Southeast Brazil, and is the most widely distributed Anthurium species found across the Americas. Its range also extends into the Caribbean, covering areas such as Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and other Caribbean nations. This species is an epiphyte that grows with green, elliptical leaves and produces white berries. Its scientific name references its characteristic scandent, or climbing, growth habit. It is the most common and most variable species in the genus Anthurium, with multiple recognized subspecies occurring throughout its distribution range. It is most frequently confused with the species Anthurium trinerve, but the two can be told apart by the shape of the spathe during flowering: on Anthurium scandens the spathe curves backward (reflexes) when the plant blooms, while on Anthurium trinerve the spathe remains upright. In some regions, the plant is used in folk medicine, where a medicinal tincture is prepared from its roots.
