There is a conspicuously coloured leafy bract subtending the fleshy column. This may be white, yellow, red, pink, orange or green. Anthuriums are popular foliage plants. They are also grown for their attractive flowering bracts which are popular with the cut flower trade. The name Anthurium is Greek in origin, meaning tail flower, referring of course to the flowering column.
Anthurium contains calcium oxalate and some unidentified compounds.