Cyrtosperma is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. The genus went through considerable taxonomic changes in the 1980s, and as a result is now considered to be native only to Southeast Asia and some Pacific islands
Previously, the genus was believed to be widespread from Asia to Africa and South America, but the African and South American species were subsequently moved into separate genera. Cyrtosperma is now known to be most prominent in New Guinea. The genus Cyrtosperma is unique in this regards because it is the only known big genus in Araceae that is known to be found east of Wallace's line.
With 12 species, Cyrtosperma is a small genus. All species with the exception of C. merkusii are confined to New Guinea and associated islands. The wide spread of C. merkusii in Malesia is certainly due to it being transported by man because it was a major food crop once, though in that capacity it is now in decline. Cyrtosperma johnstonii is the only species commonly found in horticulture.
Cyrtosperma species are slender to gigantic geophytes with a creeping rhizome and heavily armoured with prickly leaf stalks. The flowers are fully bisexual.
Cyrtosperma's habitat are tropical humid forest, swamp forest, open swamps and cultivated areas. They grow as helophytes in streams, ponds and other wet places.
The genus name, Cyrtosperma comes form greek 'Curved seed'; probably referring to the shape of the seed.
