''Arum creticum'', the Cretan arum, is a species in of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

in the family ''

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 ...

''. It is native to the Greek island of

Crete Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...

(Kriti), the Eastern Aegean Islands, and southwestern Turkey. This semi-

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

clump-forming tuberous

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 ...

has large arrow-shaped leaves. Erect folded-back

spathe In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also look ...

s of fragrant yellow or cream appear in spring, with longer narrow spadices of a darker yellow. The flowers are followed in autumn by clusters of red or orange fruit. The plant reaches tall and broad.

Description

By relative inflorescence height, ''Arum'' species are divided into "cryptic" species, whose inflorescences are borne on a short peduncle amid or below the leaves, and "flag" species, whose inflorescences are above leaf level at the end of long peduncles. ''A. creticum'' is a flag species.

Taxonomy

Together with '' Arum idaeum'' it has been placed in subsection ''Cretica'', which has been confirmed through genetic testing. They are estimated to have split about 2.2 Mya. No other species are related within 5 Mya.

Cultivation

''Arum creticum'' is cultivated as an ornamental plant in

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...

gardens. It is

hardy Hardy may refer to: People * Hardy (surname) * Hardy (given name) * Hardy (singer), American singer-songwriter Places Antarctica * Mount Hardy, Enderby Land * Hardy Cove, Greenwich Island * Hardy Rocks, Biscoe Islands Australia * Hardy, ...

but requires a sheltered position in sun or partial shade, with moist soil.

Toxicity

Caution should be exercised when handling it, as it is an irritant and toxic if ingested.

Gallery

Arum creticum - Flickr - peganum.jpg Arum creticum Marmaris White (13219713633).jpg, 'Marmaris White' Kreta-Aronstab2.jpg

References

Bibliography

* * * * Cormous plants Flora of Crete Flora of Turkey Flora of the East Aegean Islands Taxa named by Pierre Edmond Boissier Taxa named by Theodor von Heldreich Plants described in 1854 creticum {{Araceae-stub