''Arum'' is a genus of plants in the

Araceae The Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe (or leaf-like bract). Also ...

family; they are native to Europe, northern Africa, and western and central Asia, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. Frequently called arum lilies, they are not closely related to the true lilies ''

Lilium ''Lilium'' ( ) is a genus of Herbaceous plant, herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large and often prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world ...

''. Plants in the closely related genus '' Zantedeschia'' are also called 'arum lilies'. Aruminparis

They are rhizomatous,

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

plants growing to 20–60 cm tall, with sagittate (arrowhead-shaped) leaves 10–55 cm long. The flowers are produced in a spadix, surrounded by a 10–40 cm long, distinctively coloured spathe, which may be white, yellow, brown, or purple. Some species are scented, others not. The fruit is a cluster of bright orange or red

berries A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone fruit, stone or pit (fruit), pit although many wikt:pip#Etymology 2, pips or seeds may be p ...

. All parts of the plants, including the berries, are poisonous as they contain needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate. In spite of this, the plant has a history of culinary use among Arab peasants in Palestine who leached the toxins from the plant before the leaves were consumed. The genus name is the Latinized form of the Greek name for these plants, ''aron''.

Inflorescence and pollination

The flowers are borne on a poker-shaped inflorescence called a spadix, which is partially enclosed in a spathe or leaf-like hood of varying colour. The flowers are hidden from sight, clustered at the base of the spadix with a ring of female flowers at the bottom and a ring of male flowers above them. Above the male flowers is a ring of hairs forming an insect trap. The insects are trapped beneath the ring of hairs and are dusted with pollen by the male flowers before escaping and carrying the pollen to the spadices of other plants, where they pollinate the female flowers. Once the plant is pollinated, the small hairs wither away and the trapped insects are released. After the inflorescence opens, the spadix heats up well above ambient temperature, due to a phenomenon called thermogenesis. This is caused by the rapid consumption of starch in cyanide insensitive respiration, which is biochemically different from the respiration normally found in plants. The heat is used to vaporize odour components, which in species with short "flower-stalks" cause a faecal smell. This in turn attracts the small flies and gnats that are to be trapped within the inflorescence. As the time required for successful pollination to occur can be several days, many of the small insects nevertheless die within the flower due to their short lifespan. Therefore, dead insects are frequently found within the inflorescence, when opened, sometimes leading the finder to believe it is a carnivorous plant – but that is not the case. No digestive enzymes or similar components are present; and in fact, once pollinated, the entire inflorescence starts withering except the central part, from which the berries later emerge. pp. 35-40 Pollination-wise, the species of Arum can be split into two (or three) distinct groups. The "cryptic" species have the inflorescence on a relatively short stalk, and the odour released during the thermogenesis is recognizable to the human nose as distinctively faecal. These species are visited by insects with some relation to dung, such as owl-midges (

Psychodidae Psychodidae, also called drain flies, sink flies, filter flies, sewer flies, or sewer gnats, is a Family (biology), family of Fly, true flies. Some genera have short, hairy bodies and wings, giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance, hence one ...

) or fungus-gnats ( Sciara). In northern Europe, only the cryptic-flowered species are found. The other main group are called "flag" species, due to the inflorescence being on a long stalk. These species also exhibit thermogenesis, but if an odour is released it is not recognizable to the human nose, and it is debated if pollinators are attracted by a non-recognizable smell, the thermogenesis itself or visual attraction. Finally the closely related ''A. idaeum'' and ''A. creticum'' does not seem to fit any of the two groups. ''A. creticum'' appears to be of the "flag" group but, as the only species, emits a pleasing lemony smell. The apparently "cryptic" ''A. idaeum'' does not emit a recognizable smell.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

accepts the following 27 species and one hybrid: *'' Arum apulum'' - Italy (

Apulia Apulia ( ), also known by its Italian language, Italian name Puglia (), is a Regions of Italy, region of Italy, located in the Southern Italy, southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Ot ...

) *'' Arum besserianum'' - South Poland, Ukraine *'' Arum concinnatum'' - South Greece, Turkey *'' Arum creticum'' - Crete, Turkey *'' Arum cylindraceum'' - Central Europe, Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Balkans, Turkey, Cyprus *'' Arum cyrenaicum'' - Crete, Libya (

Cyrenaica Cyrenaica ( ) or Kyrenaika (, , after the city of Cyrene), is the eastern region of Libya. Cyrenaica includes all of the eastern part of Libya between the 16th and 25th meridians east, including the Kufra District. The coastal region, als ...

) *'' Arum dioscoridis'' - East Aegean, Cyprus, Turkey, Levant *'' Arum euxinum'' - Turkey (

Bithynia Bithynia (; ) was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), adjoining the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus, and the Black Sea. It bordered Mysia to the southwest, Paphlagonia to the northeast a ...

) *'' Arum gratum'' - Lebanon, Syria *'' Arum hainesii'' - East Iraq *'' Arum hygrophilum'' - Turkey, Levant, Cyprus, Morocco *'' Arum idaeum'' - Crete *'' Arum italicum'' - Mediterranean Europe, Britain, Maghreb, Crimea, Caucasus, Turkey, Iraq *'' Arum jacquemontii'' - Iran, Afghanistan, South Central Asia, West Himalayas *'' Arum korolkowii'' - North Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia *'' Arum lucanum'' - South Italy, Albania *'' Arum maculatum'' - Europe, Turkey, West Caucasus *'' Arum megobrebi'' - Transcaucasus, NE Turkey *'' Arum meryemianum'' - Turkey *'' Arum nigrum'' - Greece, Montenegro *'' Arum orientale'' - Carpathian Basin, Carpathians, Balkans, Crimea, Donbass, Caucasus, Turkey, Levant *'' Arum palaestinum'' - Levant *'' Arum pictum'' - Corsica, Sardinia, Balearics *'' Arum purpureospathum'' - Crete *'' Arum rupicola'' - Lesbos, Turkey, Transcaucasus, Iran, Levant, Iraq *'' Arum sintenisii'' - Cyprus, Turkey *'' Arum × sooi'' - Hungary, Spain *'' Arum taiwanianum'' - Taiwan Formerly placed here: *''Arum triphyllum'' – now '' Arisaema triphyllum'' *''Arum dracunculus'' – now '' Dracunculus vulgaris''

Distribution and habitat

Distribution maps for all species were published in a 2010 paper.

Taxonomy

Most literature on the genus Arum deals specifically with either ''A. maculatum'' or ''A. italicum''. Among remaining species, ''A. dioscoridis'' is the most frequently mentioned. Boyce published an overview of taxonomic classifications of ''Arum'' in 1989. Classification of Boyce 1989 (with updates): * Subgenus ''Gymnomesium'' ** ''A. pictum'' * Subgenus ''Arum'' ** Section ''Arum'' *** ''A. concinnatum'' *** ''A. byzantinum'' *** ''A. italicum'' *** ''A. maculatum'' *** ''A. megobrebi'' ** Section ''Dioscoridea'' *** Subsection ''Alpina'' **** '' A. alpinum'' (''A. cylindraceum'') *** Subsection ''Discroochiton'' **** '' A. alpinariae'' **** ''A. apulum'' **** '' A. balansanum'' **** ''A. cyrenaicum'' **** '' A. elongatum'' **** ''A. besserianum'' **** ''A. gratum'' **** ''A. hainesii'' **** '' A. longispathum'' **** ''A. lucanum'' **** ''A. nigrum'' **** ''A. orientale'' **** ''A. purpureospathum'' *** Subsection ''Tenuifila'' **** ''A. jacquemontii'' **** ''A. korolkowii'' **** ''A. rupicola'' *** Subsection ''Hygrophila'' **** ''A. euxinum'' **** ''A. hygrophilum'' **** ''A. sintenisii'' *** Subsection ''Poeciloporphyrochiton'' **** ''A. dioscoridis'' **** ''A. palaestinum'' *** Subsection ''Cretica'' **** ''A. creticum'' **** ''A. idaeum''

Chloroplast A chloroplast () is a type of membrane-bound organelle, organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant cell, plant and algae, algal cells. Chloroplasts have a high concentration of chlorophyll pigments which captur ...

classification (2010): * Subgenus ''Gymnomesium'' ** ''A. pictum'' * Subgenus ''Arum'' ** Section ''Arum'' *** ''A. maculatum'' *** Nigrum-Italicum subsection **** ''A. nigrum'' **** Italicum complex **** ''A. concinnatum'' **** ''A. byzantinum'' **** ''A. italicum'' ** Section ''Poeciloporphyrochiton'' *** ''A. dioscoridis'' *** ''A. palaestinum'' ** Large section *** ''A. creticum'' *** ''A. idaeum'' *** ''A. jacquemontii'' *** ''A. korolkowii'' *** ''A. rupicola'' *** Subsection ''Hygrophila'' **** ''A. euxinum'' **** ''A. hygrophilum'' **** ''A. sintenisii'' *** Subsection ''Discroochiton'' **** ''A. elongatum'' **** Large series ***** ''A. gratum'' ***** ''Cylindraceum'' complex ****** ''A. apulum'' ****** ''A. balansanum'' ****** ''A. cylindraceum'' ****** ''A. cyrenaicum'' ****** ''A. euxinum'' ****** ''A. lucanum'' ****** ''A. purpureospathum'' Combined chloroplast- ITS sequence classification (2010): * Subgenus ''Gymnomesium'' ** ''A. pictum'' * Subgenus ''Arum'' ** Section ''Arum'' *** ''A. maculatum'' *** Nigrum-Italicum subsection **** ''A. nigrum'' **** Italicum complex **** ''A. concinnatum'' **** ''A. byzantinum'' **** ''A. italicum'' ** Section ''Poeciloporphyrochiton'' *** ''A. dioscoridis'' *** ''A. palaestinum'' ** Large section *** Subsection ''Cretica'' **** ''A. creticum'' **** ''A. idaeum'' *** Subsection ''Hygrophila'' **** ''A. hygrophilum'' **** ''A. sintenisii'' *** Subsection ''Tenuifila'' **** ''A. rupicola'' **** Jacquemontii-Korolkowii complex ***** ''A. jacquemontii'' ***** ''A. korolkowii'' *** Subsection ''Discroochiton'' **** ''A. elongatum'' **** Large series ***** ''A. gratum'' ***** ''Cylindraceum'' complex ****** ''A. apulum'' ****** ''A. balansanum'' ****** ''A. cylindraceum'' ****** ''A. cyrenaicum'' ****** ''A. euxinum'' ****** ''A. lucanum'' ****** ''A. purpureospathum'' The ancestor of the genus is thought to have had dung/urine scented flowers for attracting flies and beetles, but over time several clades have moved to different pollinator attraction strategies. In an example of

convergent evolution Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or epochs in time. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last comm ...

, ''A. gratum'', ''A. palaestinum'' and ''A. sintenisii'' produce a fruity scent, to attract ''

Drosophila ''Drosophila'' (), from Ancient Greek δρόσος (''drósos''), meaning "dew", and φίλος (''phílos''), meaning "loving", is a genus of fly, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "small fruit flies" or p ...

'' species an others. Apparent scentlessness has evolved in Subsection ''Tenuifila'', ''A. cylindraceum'', ''A. hygrophilum'', ''A. euxinum'' and ''A. lucanum''. Subsection ''Cretica'' has evolved a sweet scent to attract bees and other insects.

Uses

Despite the presence of irritant raphides, which act together with unverified proteinaceous toxins, most parts of all species have been used as food, and continue to be used today. Use is uncommon because of the duration required to reduce aroid raphides to safe levels.

Gallery

Arum concinnatum - Icones Aroidearum pl. 39 (1857).jpg, ''A. concinnatum'' Arum italicum — Flora Batava — Volume v13.jpg, ''A. italicum'' Arum maculatum — Flora Batava — Volume v14.jpg, ''A. maculatum''

Leaves

Арум Бессера (Arum besserianum).jpg, ''A. besserianum'' Arum concinnatum RF.jpg, ''A. concinnatum'' Arum creticum, Crete 03(js).jpg, ''A. creticum'' Arum cylindraceum1.JPG, ''A. cylindraceum'' Arum dioscoridis, Jamiaa, Beirut, Lebanon (52261039630).jpg, ''A. dioscoridis'' Arum hygrophilum kz2.jpg, ''A. hygrophilum'' Arum idaeum RF.jpg, ''A. idaeum'' Arum italicum subsp. italicum sl7.jpg, ''A. italicum'' Arum korolkowii 38577675.jpg, ''A. korolkowii'' Arum maculatum 0 700.jpg, ''A. maculatum'' Arum meryemianum.jpg, ''A. meryemianum'' Arum nigrum 01.jpg, ''A. nigrum'' Arum orientale Arum Lily ქალაკოდა.JPG, ''A. orientale'' PikiWiki Israel 3833 arum palestinum.jpg, ''A. palaestinum'' Pflanze Mallorca 1.jpg, ''A. pictum'' Arum purpureospathum 01.jpg, ''A. purpureospathum'' Arum rupicola var. rupicola (GBIF occurrence 486647261).jpg, ''A. rupicola''

Flower

Arum concinnatum 002.JPG, ''A. concinnatum'' Kreta-Aronstab.JPG, ''A. creticum'' Purkersdorf - Naturschutzgebiet 58 - Speichberg - Aronstab (Arum).jpg, ''A. cylindraceum'' Arum dioscoridis kz02.jpg, ''A. dioscoridis'' Arum hygrophilum kz5.jpg, ''A. hygrophilum'' Arum idaeum.jpg, ''A. idaeum'' Arum italicum subsp. italicum kz02.jpg, ''A. italicum'' Arum korolkowii 38577706.jpg, ''A. korolkowii'' Arum maculatum - Osredek pri Dobrovi.jpg, ''A. maculatum'' Arum nigrum (26634339981).jpg, ''A. nigrum'' Arum carpaticum.jpg, ''A. orientale'' Arum palaestinum.JPG, ''A. palaestinum'' Gardenology.org-IMG 0821 hunt07mar.jpg, ''A. pictum'' Arum purpureospathum 01 (flower).jpg, ''A. purpureospathum'' Arum sintenisii flowering.jpg, ''A. sintenisii''

Fruit

Кліщинець Бессера (Arum besserianum) P1040233.jpg, ''A. besserianum'' Kreta-Aronstab2.jpg, ''A. creticum'' Arum cylindraceum4.JPG, ''A. cylindraceum'' Arum dioscoridis - Spotted arum 05.jpg, ''A. dioscoridis'' Italiaanse aronskelk (Arum italicum). Locatie, Tuinreservaat Jonkervallei 01.JPG, ''A. italicum'' Arum korolkowii 84201263.jpg, ''A. korolkowii'' PR Skalecký háj 12.jpg, ''A. maculatum'' Arisaema.jpg, ''A. orientale'' 20210806 Hortus Botanicus Leiden - Zwarte aronskelk.jpg, ''A. palaestinum'' Arumpurpureospathum.jpg, ''A. purpureospathum''

Corm

Arum cylindraceum sl23.jpg, ''A. cylindraceum'' Arum italicum bulbus.jpg, ''A. italicum''

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * {{Authority control Araceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus