Epiphytic vine, rarely terrestrial; stems slender, cane-like, erect or trailing, to 1 m or more long, 5-7 mm diam., encircling stem, persistent at upper nodes, drying thin, dark brown, deciduous except for a few pale thread-like fibers;petioles 3÷12 cm long, 2-3 mm diam.. weakly sulcate; blades coriaceous, lanceolate-elliptic, narrowly elliptic or sometimes oblanceolate-elliptic, acute to attenuate at base, (7-)9-15(-17) cm long, (1.7-)2.5-5(-7) cm wide. Inflorescence spreading; peduncle 7-13 cm long, ca. 2 mm diam.; spathe thin, pale green, broadly lanceolate to oblong, 2.5-4.3 cm long, 8-14 mm wide; stipe 5-8 mm long; spadix green, becoming yellowish, (2.5-)3-5.5 cm long, 3-4 mm diam. at base; berries yellow, becoming bright orange, ovoid, acute at apex, 9-11 mm long, 6-8 mm diam.; usually 2, sometimes 3-4 seeds. See Croat (1983: 263) for a more complete description.

Anthurium carnosum ranges from Costa Rica to Panama at elevations from (700 to) 1,500 to 2,600 (to 3,000) m in premontane rain, lower montane wet, lower montane, and montane rain forest life zone formations. In Panama, the species is widespread in Chiriquí Province and is also known from adjacent Bocas del Toro and from Veraguas.

Anthurium carnosum is in section Xialophyllium and is recognized by its scandent habit, its thick succulent leaves with strongly discolorous surfaces, its short greenish spadix, and its yellow to orange berries. Among Panamanian species, A. carnosum is most closely related to A. pittieri and A. interruptum but differs from A. pittieri by its longer internodes, its viney habit, its nonde-current spathe, and its thick, succulent leaves. It differs from A. interruptum in its higher altitudinal range, its short-stipitate spadix, its orange (versus red) berry color, its shorter internode length, and its thicker leaves.

Map of Mesoamerican specimens with coordinates

Costa Rica :, , Burger 7978 (CR, F).
Costa Rica :, , Burger & Stolze 5227 (CR, F).
Costa Rica :, , Burger & Baker 9545 (F, MO).
Costa Rica : 3000 m,, Jan. 1897, Pittier 10513 (US).
Costa Rica :, , Brade 2357 (BR).
Costa Rica Alajuela: 1025-1100 m, 10.10.40N 84.34.10W, 3 September 1996, Thomas B. Croat 78876 (MO).
Costa Rica Cartago:, , Pittier 10534 (CR).
Costa Rica Cartago: Cordillera de Talamanca,, , Williams et al. 28115 (EAP, F).
Costa Rica Cartago: Cordillera de Talamanca,, , Williams et al. 28247 (F).
Costa Rica Cartago: Volcán Turrialba,, , Utley 151 (DUKE).
Costa Rica Cartago: Cerro del Roble,, , Tonduz 11829 (CR).
Costa Rica Cartago: Trinidad,, , Jimenez 2199 (CR, F).
Costa Rica Cartago: Cerro de la Muerte,, , Thomas B. Croat 35416 (MO).
Costa Rica Cartago: Río Grande de Orosi,, , Burger & Liesner 6724B (F).
Costa Rica Cartago:, , Utley & Utley 856 (CR, F).
Costa Rica Cartago:, , Utley & Utley 1698 (CR, F).
Costa Rica Costa Rica:, , Edison Jiménez & A. Mariscal 29 (US).
Costa Rica Guanacaste: 800 m, 10.48N 85.19W, 2 October 1987, Gerardo Herrera Rafael Robles 749 (MO).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 2300-2400 m, 9.08N 82.57W, 9 Sep 1984, G. Davidse, G. Herrera Ch. & M.H. Grayum 28736 (MO).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 65 m,, Aug 1982, Gomez 18505 (US).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 1900 m, 09.22.45N 83.06.15W, 25 Mar 1992, Herrera, G. 5486 (INB, CR).
Costa Rica Lim—n: P.N. Cordillera de Talamanca; Cordillera de Talamanca, 1600 m, 09.24.35N 83.13.30W, 4 April 1993, Alvaro Fernandez 1027 (CR).
Costa Rica Lim—n: P.N. Cordillera de Talamanca; Cordillera de Talamanca, 2600 m, 09.23.55N 83.10.10W, 2 April 1993, Gerardo Herrera 6170 (CR).
Costa Rica Lim—n: 1700 m,, 18 Ago. 1995, G.Herrera & W.Gamboa E. 8607 (CR, MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1800-1850 m, 9.07N 83.04W, 20 Mar 1984, Gerrit Davidse, G. Herrera Ch. & R.H. Warner 25624 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1700 m, 8.55.30N 82.45.40W, 14 August 1989, Abelardo Chacón 311 (CR, DUKE, KYO, MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 2600-2750 m, 9.10.30N 83.03.45W, 21 Mar 1984, Gerrit Davidse, G. Herrera Ch. & R.H. Warner 25702 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: R.I. Ujarrás; Cordillera de Talamanca, 1600-1900 m, 09.19N 83.15W, 12 March 1993, Alvaro Fernandez 634 (CR).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: R.I. Ujarrás; Cordillera de Talamanca, 1700 m, 09.18.20N 83.15.20W, 10 April 1993, Alvaro Fernandez 1073 (CR, MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: R.I. Ujarrás; Cordillera de Talamanca, 2200-2600 m, 09.21.10N 83.16.38W, 5 October 1989, Marlon Valerio 181 (CR, MO).
Costa Rica San José:, , Standley 43087 (US).
Costa Rica San José:, , Standley 43096 (US).
Costa Rica San José:, , Standley 43100 (US).
Costa Rica San José:, , Standley 42635 (US).
Costa Rica San José:, , Standley 42682 (US).
Costa Rica San José:, , Standley 42732 (US).
Costa Rica San José:, , Standley 42747 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake Chonta,, , Standley 42161 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake Chonta,, , Standley 42307 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake Chonta,, , Standley 42313 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake Chonta,, , Standley 42364 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake La Escuadra,, , Standley 41956 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake La Escuadra,, , Standley 41990 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake La Escuadra,, , Standley 42060 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Lake La Escuadra,, , Standley 42061 (US).
Costa Rica San José: Río Parrita Chiquita,, , Lent 3911 (CR, F).
Costa Rica San José: 2500 m,, 3 June 1984, Murphy 1406 (F).
Costa Rica San José: Fila Bustamante, 1600-1800 m, 09.43.06N 84.10.52W, 2 June 1995, J.F. Morales 4272 (CR).
Panama : 1450-1480 m, 8.35N 81.50W, 6 July 1988, Thomas B. Croat 69041 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: Valle de Silencio, 9.5N 82.56W, 8-10 Aug. 1979, António 1618 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: -Chirique border,, 20 Apr. 1968, Kirkbride & Duke 991 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: Valle del Silencio, 9.05S 82.56W, July 1979, António 1688 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1950-2220 m, 8.49N 82.24W, 7 Feb. 1986, Gordon McPherson & M. Merello 8327 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1150 m, 8.45N 82.15W, 22 Oct. 1985, Gordon McPherson 7245 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 2450-2600 m, 09.05.00N 82.50.30W, 2-3 Mar 1984, G. Davidse, L.D. Gómez, G. Herrera, C.R. Chacón, I. & A. Chacón 25172 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1500 m,, 20 June 1986, W.G. D'Arcy 16323 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Dist. Bugaba, 2200 m, 08.52N 82.33E, 23 January 1985, Henk van der Werff & J. Herrera 6280 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Dist. Bugaba, 2200 m, 08.52N 82.33W, 24 January 1985, Henk van der Werff & J. Herrera 6308 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Cerro de la Horqueta, 1700 m,, 17-19 Mar 1911, Pittier 5736 (US).
Panama Chiriquí: Cerro Horqueta, 2000-2200 m,, 15 May 1971, Proctor 31917 (LL).
Panama Chiriquí: 1630 m, 08.32N 81.46W, 30 March 1993, Thomas B. Croat 75036 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1750-1900 m, 8.41N 82.10W, 22 Sept. 1987, Croat 67970 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Río Palo Alto headwaters, 1700-2100 m, 8.47N 82.22W, 24 Apr. 1982, Knapp & Schmalzel 4806 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1800-1900 m,, 25 May 1973, Luteyn 3778 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1800-1900 m,, 25 May 1973, Luteyn 3782 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 2200 m, 82.33N 8.53W, 18 Oct. 1980, Maas & Dressler 4849 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Continental Divide, 5000-5500 ft.,, 5 May 1975, Mori & Kallunki 5950 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Continental Divide, 5000-5500 ft.,, 5 May 1975, Mori & Kallunki 5971 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 6000-6500 ft.,, 19 July 1975, Mori & Bolten 7236 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Cerro Hornitos, 2238 m,, 26 July 1975, Mori & Bolten 7462 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Cerro Hornitos, 2238 m,, 26 July 1975, Mori & Bolten 7464 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Boquete Region, 6500-7000 ft.,, 23 Apr. 1940, von Hagen & von Hagen 2035 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Río Chiriquí Viejo,, 13 Jan. 1971, Wilbur et al. 13082 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 5600-7400 ft,, 19 Mar 1979, D'Arcy et al. 12686 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Río Palo Alto, 1300-1800 m, 8.47N 82.22W, 11 Nov. 1981, Knapp et al. 2081 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 2200 m, 8.50N 82.35W, 6 June 1986, Gordon McPherson 9351 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1750-1900 m, 08.50N 82.30W, 28 July 1987, Gordon McPherson 11342 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 2100 m, 8.49N 82.24W, 17 Jan 1986, Greg de Nevers & G. McPherson 6837 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 08.45N 82.18W, 24 July 1994, Thomas B. Croat & Guanghua Zhu 76415 .
Panama Chiriquí: Fortuna Dam Site, 1130 m, 8.45N 82.15W, 8 March 1985, Gordon McPherson 6697 (MO).
Panama CoclŽ: 850 m, 8.39N 80.36W, 13 Sept. 1987, Croat 67565 (MO).
Panama CoclŽ: 700-750 m, 8.38N 80.35W, 27 Nov. 1985, Gordon McPherson 7679 (MO).
Panama CoclŽ: 770 m, 08.38N 80.35W, 12 July 1994, Thomas B. Croat & Guanghua Zhu 76776 (MO).
Panama Veraguas: 1300-1500 m, 8.35N 81.05W, 20 Feb. 1983, C. Hamilton & R. Dressler 3102 (MO).
Panama Veraguas: Santa Fe Region, 1000 m,, 19 May 1975, Mori 6251 (MO, PMA, US).
Panama Veraguas: Cerro Tute, 1000 m,, 19 June 1975, Mori 6779 (MO).