arum family

arum family
—arumlike, adj.
/air"euhm/, n.
the plant family Araceae, characterized by herbaceous plants having numerous tiny flowers on a fleshy spike above or sheathed by a large spathe, and including the anthurium, calla lily, jack-in-the-pulpit, and philodendron.
[1545-55; < L < Gk áron wake-robin]

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Family Araceae, containing about 2,000 species, many of which are popular ornamentals and foliage plants.

Native primarily to the tropics and subtropics, a few species grow in temperate zones. The genera Philodendron and Monstera are grown for their vinelike habit and large green leaves. Other arums grown ornamentally include the florist's calla lily and the water arum (Calla palustris). Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is well known in woodlands, and the foul-smelling eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) in marshes. The genus Arum contains about 15 perennial species noted for funnel-shaped bracts and glossy, arrow-shaped leaves. Sap in Arum species can be poisonous.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • arum family — noun anthurium; calla lily; jack in the pulpit; philodendron • Syn: ↑Araceae, ↑family Araceae • Derivationally related forms: ↑araceous (for: ↑Araceae) • Hypernyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • arum family — ar′um fam ily [[t]ˈɛər əm[/t]] n. pln a family, Araceae, of herbaceous plants bearing numerous tiny flowers on a fleshy spike above or sheathed by a large spathe: includes the anthurium, calla lily, jack in the pulpit, and philodendron •… …   From formal English to slang

  • arum — [er′əm, ar′əm] n. 〚ModL < L < Gr aron, the cuckoopint〛 any plant of the arum family (esp. genus Arum) which is characterized by small flowers on a thick spike, within a hoodlike leaf adj. designating a family (Araceae, order Arales) of… …   Universalium

  • Arum — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Arum (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Arum Italicum — Arum italicum …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Arum italicum — Arum italicum …   Wikipédia en Français

  • arum — [er′əm, ar′əm] n. [ModL < L < Gr aron, the cuckoopint] any plant of the arum family (esp. genus Arum) which is characterized by small flowers on a thick spike, within a hoodlike leaf adj. designating a family (Araceae, order Arales) of… …   English World dictionary

  • Arum — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Arum (homonymie). Arum …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Arum italicum — Arum italicum …   Wikipédia en Français

  • arum — noun Etymology: New Latin, from Latin arum, from Greek aron Date: 14th century any of a genus (Arum of the family Araceae, the arum family) of Eurasian plants having usually arrow shaped leaves and a showy spathe partially enclosing a spadix;… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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