Cryptanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae.

The genus name is from the Greek cryptos (hidden) and anthos (flower).

The genus formerly had two recognized subgenera: the type subgenus and subgenus Hoplocryptanthus Mez which has been raised to the separate genus Hoplocryptanthus.

[2] All species of this genus are endemic to Brazil.

[4] As of November 2022[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[1] A major revision of Cryptanthus in 2017 based on both morphological and molecular characters elevated a former subgenus to the genus Hoplocryptanthus and created two new genera, Forzzaea and Rokautskyia, transferring many former Cryptanthus species to these three genera.