Thursday, December 16, 2010

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 known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially known as aroid. This family of 107 genera and over 3700 species is most diverse in the New World tropics, although also distributed in the Old World tropics and north temperate regions. The leaf below is from what is commonly known as a calla lily even though it is neither the one nor the other! Other members of the Araceae have particular features that make them unique in the plant kingdom. There are some aroids that are capable of raising the temperature of the spadix (the central finger-like protuberance in the flower or inflorescence) independently of the temperature of the outside environment. This allows the plant to dissipate an odour (usually similar to that of rotting meat) more freely that will attract insects such as flies. This puts a bit of problem on the uniqueness of  warm-blooded mammals! Many other aroids choose their sex at random and some even choose not to emerge in the spring and simply wait for the next year, perhaps a better one.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

A hosta is not a member of the Aroids but is more closely related to the lily to which the calla lily is not in the least. I have around 500 hostas in my gardens. Hosta 'Krossa Regal' has very thick, tall and stately leaves that are the colour of an American batttleship.

Hosta 'Krossa Regal'