Said to be a rather difficult species, due to its natural habitat, Anthurium cutucuense Madison is an endangered species, a member of section Dactylophyllium. It grows s hemiepiphytic or epiphytic (occasionally terrestrial) vine, growing to 8 m.
Petioles are terete, narrowly and weakly to deeply sulcate, punctate. Leaf blades trisect, the segments elongated and narrow, subcoriaceous to coriaceous, strongly bullate, dark green and matte-subvelvety above. The back of the leaf is also of interest with its light crystalline surface divided down the middle with red midveins. The plant starts its life as a seedling on or near the forest floor and climbs its way up the moss and epiphyte covered trunk of a nearby tree. During early stages of development, Anthurium cutucuense has long internodes and single leaflets on thin wiry stems. As it climbs towards brighter light and a better view, Anthurium cutucuense develops its' characteristic trisected leaves and the internodes begin to get closer together.
 
The genus name Anthurium is derived from Greek ánthos "flower" + ourá "tail" + New Latin -ium -ium . A very  literal translation of this would be 'flowering tail'.