4-3 Araceae, arum family

Marian C. Munro; Ruth E. Newell; Nicholas M. Hill

Authors

Marian C. Munro Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS
Ruth E. Newell E. C. Smith Herbarium, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Nicholas M. Hill Fernhill Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia; Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Keywords:

Magnoliophyte, arum family, monocots, Calla, Arisaema, Symplocarpus, water-arum, calla, jack-in-the-pulpit, skunk cabbage plants

Abstract

A larger family with 110 genera, it is best developed in the tropics, with 1800 species worldwide. Nova Scotia hosts three distinctive plants in three genera. The small flowers are borne on fleshy spikes called spadices, each subtended and surrounded by a spathe. They may be perfect or unisexual. Fruits are berries or compound. Jamie Ellison, Beth Cameron, Alain Belliveau, Ross Hall, Sean Blaney and Eugene Quigley gave us permission to use their images.

Author Biographies

Marian C. Munro, Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS

Curator of Botany (NSPM)

Ruth E. Newell, E. C. Smith Herbarium, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Curator of the E. C. Smith Herbarium (ACAD)

Nicholas M. Hill, Fernhill Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia; Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Director; Adjunct Professor