Anthurium Chocolate

What appear to be the large, glossy heart-shaped leaves of the Chocolate Anthurium are technically the plant?s flower bracts, or spathes, notes the University of California-Davis Postharvest Technology website. These large bracts, which grow up to 12 inches long, have inspired the common name ?artist?s palate,? while the color of some bracts and flowers lend the plant its most famous common name, ?flamingo flower.? The actual flowers, or spadices, are spiked and light-colored, resembling caterpillars nestled in the center of the fleshy bracts. The Chocolate Anthurium gets its name from the dark brown color of the bracts on this variety, while other colors in the anthurium family include green, red, pink, white and light purple.