There are over 600 species of perennial, often epiphytic herbs, native to tropical America.

This monocotyledon, epiphytic, evergreen perennial with short internodes is native to Colombia and Ecuador. It is a popular foliage plant, producing blossoms of great beauty. Many Araceae have large, much divided leaves (as in Jack-in-the pulpit) but others are undivided as in this epiphyte. Note the mass of "coralloid roots" for water absorption and storage and also the thick leaves characteristic of nearly all epiphytes. What looks like a large flower is really a spike-like inflorescence (spathe) surrounded by a large colorful bract. The flowers develop into brightly colored fruits that are bird dispersed.