Epiphytic; stems to 16 cm long, 12 cm diam.; cataphylls drying tan, persisting more or less intact; petioles 20-27 cm long, 7-10 mm wide, more or less quadrangular, broadly and shallowly sulcate; blades lanceolate, coriaceous, 47-69 cm long, 10-19 cm wide, rounded al base. Inflorescence spreading; peduncle 33-39 cm long, 9-12 cm diam., subterete; spathe coriaceous, dark green, turning yellow, ovate-lanceolate, 16-17 cm long, ca. 4 cm wide; spadix lavender to purple, green at apex in early stages, 15-23 cm long, 1.2-3.5 cm diam. at base; berries bright orange, obovoid, flattened at apex, 8-15 mm long; seeds 1-2. See Croat (1983: 407) for a more complete description.

Anthurium validifolium is known for certain only from Chiriquí Province in Panama. Most collections have been made in lower montane wet and lower montane rain forest from 1,600 to 2,000 m.

The species, a member of section Pachyneurium, is characterized by its large, moderately thick, lanceolate leaf blade, its lavender to purple spadix, and by its bright orange, obovoid berries.

Map of Mesoamerican specimens with coordinates

Costa Rica Puntarenas: 1140 m, 08.47N 82.58W, 24 January 1989, Michael Grayum 9278 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: Canton of Coto Brus,, 6-7 March 1984, Croat 57279 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: Las Cruces Tropical Botanical Garden, 1300 m,, 11 Jan 1978, Thomas B. Croat 44445 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: Las Cruces Tropical Botanical Garden, 1200 m, 08.49N 82.58W, 6-7 March 1984, Croat 57258 (MO).
Costa Rica Puntarenas: R.I. Ujarrás; Cordillera de Talamanca, 1600-1900 m, 09.19N 83.15W, 12 March 1993, Alvaro Fernandez 633 (CR, INB).
Panama Chiriquí: Río Colorado, 1200-1400 m, 8.50N 82.43W, 17 March 1983, C. Hamilton & H. Stockwell 3532 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí:, 30 May 1970, Thomas B. Croat 10667 (B, F, GH, K, MO, NY, PMA, RSA, US).
Panama Chiriquí: 1700-2200 m, 8.53N 82.43W, 12 Oct. 1981, Knapp 1529 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Cerro Pelota, 1800-2000 m, 8.53N 82.43W, 10 Oct. 1981, Knapp 1497 (K, MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1700-2200 m, 8.53N 82.43W, 12 Oct. 1981, Knapp 1522 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1700-2200 m, 8.53N 82.43W, 12 Oct. 1981, Knapp 1528 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1700-2200 m, 8.53N 82.43W, 12 Oct. 1981, Knapp 1523 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Cerro Pelota, 2300 m, 8.54N 82.43W, 10 Oct. 1981, Knapp 1513 (F, MO).
Panama Chiriquí: 1700-2200 m, 8.53N 82.43W, 12 Oct. 1981, Knapp 1526 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí:, 30 May 1970, Thomas B. Croat 10553 (MO).
Panama Chiriquí:, 30 May 1970, Thomas B. Croat 10554 (F, MO).
Panama Chiriquí: Cerro Pando,, 21 July 1971, Thomas B. Croat 15971 (MO, NY).
Panama Chiriquí: Boquete Region, 1870 m,, 21 Nov 1975, Davidse & D'Arcy 10309 (MO, PMA).
Panama Chiriquí: Río Ladrillo, 1200-1300 m,, 6 March 1911, Pittier 3052 (US).
Panama Chiriquí: 1600 m, 8.49N 82.38W, 15 June 1987, Thomas B. Croat 66204 (MO, WU).
Panama Chiriquí: 1520 m, 8.51N 82.45W, 17 Jun 1987, Croat 66321 (MO,SEL).