epiphytic or terrestrial; stems elongate, ca. Im long, 1-1.5 cm diam., drying irregularly grooved on 1 or more sides; internodes 1.5-2.5 cm long; leaf scars moderately inconspicuous, ca. 1 cm wide; roots few, scattered at the nodes; cataphylls moderately thin, 6-15 cm long, green, sometimes tinged purplish, apiculate at apex, drying greenish-yellow to brown, dilacerating and often persisting, ultimately deciduous.

LEAVES spreading, scattered in upper part of stem; petioles (8)14-48 cm long, 3-6 mm diam., terete; geniculum 5-15 mm long; blades oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, moderately thin, gradually acuminate to cuspidate-acuminate at apex (the acumen 1-3 cm long), obtuse to rounded (rarely acute) at base, 18-50 cm long, 4-1 2.5 cm wide, broadest usually below the middle, the margin ± straight; upper surface matte to semiglossy, lower surface matte; midrib weakly raised in a valley above, prominently raised below; primary lateral veins 10-16 per side, departing midrib at 60°-80° angle, weakly sunken above, raised below, loop-connecting to collective vein; lesser veins obscure; collective vein usually arising from the first to third primary lateral vein, 1-8 mm from margin.

INFLORESCENCE spreading, usually shorter than leaves; peduncle 14-40 cm long, 3-5 mm diam., terete, three quarters to equally as long as petioles;
spathe ± thin, green, lanceolate, 3-7 cm long, 7-14 mm wide, acuminate at apex, slightly clasping and rounded at base; spreading, inserted at 60° angle on peduncle; stipe 2-8 mm long in front, 1-7 mm long in back, ca. 3 mm diam.; spadix green, sometimes tinged with violet-purple, 4-12 cm long, 4-6 mm diam. at base, 2-4 mm diam. at apex: flowers rhombic, 1.8-4 mm long, 1.5-3 mm wide, the sides straight to slightly jaggedly sigmoid; 2-4 flowers visible in either spiral; tepals matte to semiglossy, densely and minutely papillate, turned up against the emerging pistils, lateral tepals 1.8-5 mm wide, inner margin convex, thin, pale, the alternate pair with inner margins convex; pistils early emergent, green; stigma ca. 0.5 mm long, elliptic; stamens held at or above the tepals on translucent filaments 0.5 mm long, 0.3 mm wide, lateral stamens developing throughout, followed quickly by alternates; anthers orange, 0.5-0.8 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide; thecae cllipsoid, slightly divaricate; pollen orange fading to yellow.

INFRUCTESCENCE with spadix 7-14 cm long; berries oblong-ellipsoid, rounded at apex, bright red, 9-13 mm long, 5-7 mm diam., prominently exsert-ed before maturity, mesocarp gelatinous; seeds 2, oblong-ellipsoid to elliptic, rounded at both ends, tan, scarcely flattened, 3-7 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, 2.5-3.4 mm thick, an appendage enveloping the seed, extending beyond both ends and at least one side. Fig. 199.

The species is found in Costa Rica and Panama at 800 to 2,000 m elevation in premontane wet and premontane rain forest life zones. In Costa Rica the species ranges from Monleverde in Puntarenas and Alajuela Provinces to San Vito de Java near the Panamanian border. In Panama the species is known only from western Panama near Costa Rica.
Anthurium testaceum can be distinguished by its elongate, narrow stem, long, thin, persistent cataphylls, bright red, prematurely exserted berries, few-flowered spadix spirals, and lanceolate leaf with the midrib and primary lateral veins drying very pale tan.
The species is probably closest to A. cerropirrense Croat (ined.) from Darien Province in eastern Panama, but that species diners in having 5-7 flowers per spiral and tepals that are not at all elevated. It also has shorter inlemodes and purple berries.
Live material of this species has been confused with specimens of A. pallens. Anthurium pallens differs, however, by its smaller, yellow berries, the midrib and primary lateral veins not significantly different in color from the blade, and the secondary veins more numerous and prominent than in A. testaceum. The veins of A. testaceum probably appear more striking because of the great contrast between the rich green lower leaf surface and the light, almost bleached appearance of the veins. In "Anthurium in Costa Rica" (Croat & Baker, 1979) it was suggested that it would best be placed in section Leptanthurium; it is, however, best placed in section Xiaiophyllium.

Map of Mesoamerican specimens with coordinates

Costa Rica : Monteverde, 1500 m,, 15 Aug 1988, Hayworth 306 (WIS).
Costa Rica Alajuela: Monteverde Biological Reserve, 1600 m, 10.18N 84.47W, 9 Oct 1987, Haber & Bello 7563 (CR).
Costa Rica Alajuela: Bosque Eterno De Los Niños; Cordillera de Tilarán, 1100 m, 10.20N 84.42W, 25 January 1990, Erick Bello 1811 (CR).
Costa Rica Guanacaste: 1100 m, 10.55.45N 85.28.15W, 25 November 1990, Roberto Espinoza 79 (MO).
Costa Rica Heredia: 1850-2000 m, 10.12N 84.07W, 20 April 1986, Michael H. Grayum 7319 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1150 m, 08.47N 82.58W, 1 July 1984, Michael H. Grayum 3360 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1600 m,, 21 julio 1985, William A. Haber & Eric Bello C. 2070 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1600-1700 m, 10.20N 84.50W, 10 Oct. 1985, William A. Haber ex Eric Bello 3425 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1500 m, 10.20N 84.50W, 30 Nov. 1985, William A. Haber ex Eric Bello 3663 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1700 m, 10.20N 84.50W, 29 Dec. 1985, William A. Haber ex Eric Bello C. 4023 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1500 m, 10.18N 84.48W, 5 Nov 1986, William A. Haber ex Eric Bello 6192 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1600 m, 10.18N 84.47W, 5 August 1988, William Haber & John Atwood 8529 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1400-1500 m, 8.57N 82.50W, 28 Aug 1983, Gerrit Davidse 24143 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1350-1450 m, 8.56N 82.51W, 29 Aug 1983, Gerrit Davidse 24194 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1450-1600 m, 8.57N 82.51W, 30 Aug 1983, Gerrit Davidse 24327 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1100-1200 m, 9.04.30N 83.05.00W, 29 Mar 1984, Gerrit Davidse & G. Herrera Ch. 26216A (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1100 m, 8.57N 82.56W, 4 Sep 1984, G. Davidse, G. Herrera Ch. & M.H. Grayum 28294 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1300-1650 m, 8.59.30N 82.57.30W, 5 Sep 1984, G. Davidse, G. Herrera Ch. & M.H. Grayum 28325 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1500-1620 m,, 23 May 1984, Willow Z. Pounds 267 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1000-1100 m, 10.16N 84.48W, 23 Jun 1985, B. Hammel & J. Trainer 14010 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1450 m,, 13 November 1994, D. R. Hodel & M. Binder 1337 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: R.B. Monteverde; Cordillera de Tilarán, 1300 m, 10.16N 84.22W, 4 May 1991, Erick Bello, Eladio & Roy Cruz 2719 (CR).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: Cordillera de Talamanca, 1250-1300 m, 09.01.35N 83.00.45W, 9 Apr 1996, Villalobos, R. 299 (INB, MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: Cordillera de Talamanca, 1680 m, 09.01.30N 82.57.40W, 14 June 1995, Angulo 351 (INB, MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1200 m, 8.44N 82.17W, 11 March 198, T.B. Croat & M.H. Grayum 60296 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1200 m, 8.44N 82.17W, 11 March 198, T.B. Croat & M.H. Grayum 60348 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1170 m, 8.44N 82.17W, 22 June 1987, Thomas B. Croat 66646 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1150-1200 m, 8.45N 82.15W, 3 Dec 1985, Gordon McPherson 7713 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1000 m, 8.45N 82.15W, 8 Dec 1985, Gordon McPherson 7849 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1150 m, 8.45N 82.15W, 22 Oct. 1985, Gordon McPherson 7217 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1150 m, 8.45N 82.15W, 22 Oct. 1985, Gordon McPherson 7219 (MO).
Panama Bocas del Toro: 1200 m, 08.45N 82.15W, 16 April 1987, Gordon McPherson 10864 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1200 m, 8.46N 82.13W, 16 Mar 1985, Hampshire & Whitefoord 667 (BM).
Panama Chiriquí: 1100-1135 m, 8.43N 82.17W, 8 March 1985, T.B. Croat & M.H. Grayum 60058 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1200 m, 08.44N 81.17W, 29 March 1993, Thomas B. Croat 74965 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1630 m, 08.32N 81.46W, 30 March 1993, Thomas B. Croat 75028 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1100 m, 8.45N 82.13W, 8 Feb. 1984, H.W. Churchill, G. de Nevers & H. Stockwell 4809 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1100 m, 8.45N 82.13W, 8 Feb. 1984, H.W. Churchill, G. de Nevers & H. Stockwell 4821 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1100 m, 8.45N 82.13W, 8 Feb. 1984, H.W. Churchill, G. de Nevers & H. Stockwell 4823 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 08.44N 82.17W, 23 June 1994, Thomas B. Croat & Guanghua Zhu 76325 (MEXU, MO).
Panama Chiriquí:, 7 December 1997, D.W. Roubik & L. Quroz 1289 .
Panama Chiriquí:, 7 December 1997, D.W. Roubik & L. Quroz 1276 .

Map of South American Specimens with coordinates

Colombia Antioquia: 1850 m, 06.45N 76.23W, 17 October 1987, Alan E. Brant & Gladys E. Martínez A. 1363 (MO).
Colombia Narino: 550 m,, 10 Jun 1986, Leon et al. 1537 (U).
Colombia Valle del Cauca: Ri|o Grande, 1800 m,, 22 May 1988, Ramos et al. 976 (MO).
Colombia Valle del Cauca: 1920 m, 03.30N 76.35W, 12 Dec 1985, Al Gentry & Myriam Monsalve 53204 (MO).
Colombia Valle del Cauca: 1720 m,, 14 Abril 1990, J.E. Ramos 2572 (MO, CUVC).
Ecuador Carchí: 1000 m, 01.6N 78.17W, 07 Feb 1985, Øllgaard, Korning, Thomsen & Illum 57266 (AAU, MO).
Ecuador Carchí: 1000 m, 01.6N 78.17W, 07 Feb 1985, Øllgaard, Korning, Thomsen & Illum 57292 (AAU).
Ecuador Carchí: 1000 m, 01.6N 78.17W, 07 Feb 1985, Øllgaard, Korning, Thomsen & Illum 57439 (AAU).
Ecuador Carchí: 1000 m, 01.02N 78.16W, 23 May 1992 - 27 May 1992, Galo Tipaz, C. Quelal & G. Cantincuz 1085 (MO).
Ecuador Carchí: 900 m, 00.55N 78.32W, 22 Nov 1992, Carlos Aulestia, E. Aulestia & M. Guanga 766 (MO!, NY).
Ecuador Esmeraldas: Reserva Etnica Awa, 250 m, 0.52N 78.26W, 22 Mar 1993, Carlos Aulestia & M. Aulestia 1421 (MO).
Ecuador Esmeraldas: 600 m, 0.56N 78.23W, 01 Apr 1994, Walter Palacios 12198 (MO, QCNE).
Ecuador Esmeraldas: Bilsa, 400-600 m, 0.21N 79.44W, 07 Oct 1994, John L. Clark, M. Bass & N. Pitman 155 (MO, QCNE).
Ecuador Esmeraldas: 600 m, 00.56N 78.23W, 01 Apr 1994, Walter Palacios 12198 (MO, QCNE).
Ecuador Esmeraldas: Bilsa, 500 m, 00.21N 79.44W, 18 Nov 1996, John L. Clark, F. Gurumendí & H. Weinert 3441 (K, MO, QCNE).
Ecuador Esmeraldas: Bilsa, 500 m, 00.21N 79.44W, 18 Nov 1996, John L. Clark, F. Gurumendí & H. Weinert 3454 (MO, QCNE).