Anthuriums have heart-shaped flowers and are said
to be the signature flower of the islands. English missionaries
first introduced anthuriums to the islands in 1889. It is native
to Latin America's rainforests. Here in Hawaii, anthuriums are
known to grow successfully on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Anthuriums
are part of a family of plants which include taro, philodendron,
monstera, and calla lily. They all share the similar heart-shaped
flower and knobby tail (spadix). My favorite of the anthuriums
are the Obake, which means ghost in Japanese. The large two-tone
colored flowers of green and red or green and white display
individual variations and artistic impressions.