How to Identify the Araceae or Arum Family

9 Sep, 2022

How to Identify the Araceae or Arum Family

Arisaema triphyllum flower from Hampton, Virginia. Lyrae Willis photo. Flowers are in a spadix and the spadix is enclosed in a sheath, typical of the Araceae family.
Arisaema triphyllum flower from Hampton, Virginia. Lyrae Willis photo. Flowers are in a spadix and the spadix is enclosed in a sheath, typical of the Araceae family.

Table of contents

Introduction to the Araceae Family

The Araceae family has always been a favorite of mine, having grown up in the temperate rainforest of the British Columbia coast of western Canada, where it is often found in wet forests and swamps in the region. Most people don’t like the smell, hence the name, however, I love the smell because I love swamps, and when I smell skunk cabbage, odds are there is a swamp nearby for me to explore!  

The Araceae family is part of the Alismatales Order of the Monocot flowering plants. As a monocot, they typically have parallel veins in their leaves. Their flowers are not typical at all for a monocot, however. They often lack a perianth and almost always are densely packed into a cylindrical spadix and enclosed by a characteristic spathe. This is a defining feature of this family, making it very easy to recognize in the field.

Flowers of the Araceae

Plants may be hermaphrodite, monoecious, or rarely dioecious. The inflorescence is characteristic of the family, a terminal cylindrical or ovoid spadix on a peduncle with 3-900 sessile flowers very tightly packed together. When monoecious, the male flowers appear on the upper part of the spadix, with the female flowers below. The spadix is almost always subtended by a persistent or deciduous spathe that is often colored. In the Lemnoideae, the spadix is reduced to 1-4 flowers in a pouch. Flowers are small, sessile, actinomorphic, ebracteate, hypogynous, and often possess a strong odor that most find unpleasant. The perianth is usually only present in bisexual flowers, and no hypanthium is present. When present, the perianth is 2-whorled with 4-9 parts that may be free or basally joined.  

Androecium of the Araceae

Androecium has 4, 6, or 8(1-32) members. Stamens may or may not all be fertile, staminodes are sometimes present. Stamens may be free or connate in synandria. The arrangement is antitepalous in hermaphrodite flowers that possess a perianth. Anthers are often subsessile, and dehiscence is poricidal, longitudinal, or transverse. 

Gynoecium of the Araceae

The gynoecium has one ovary that is 1-3(to many) locular, may be sessile or embedded in the spadix, and is syncarpous. The ovary is superior with 3(1-50) carpels, usually with as many locules as carpels. There is usually one short style (sometimes absent) with a hemispheric, capitate, or discoid stigma that is sometimes strongly lobed. Placentation is parietal, axile, basal, or apical. Ovules are one to many per carpel and are usually anatropous and bitegmic.  

Fruit of the Araceae

The fruits are one to many-seeded indehiscent berries that may be distinct or less often connate in a syncarp. Rarely do the fruits form as dehiscent berries via a stylar plate. Seeds are variable in shape, almost always possess endosperm, are oily, sometimes starchy, and sometimes possess a fleshy seed coat.

Habit & Leaf Form of the Araceae

Perennial herbs, shrubs, or vines that may be aquatic or terrestrial, emergent or floating, or epiphytic. They grow from vertical or horizontal rhizomes that may or may not be branched, starchy underground corms, or stolons found at or near the surface. Roots are often mycorrhizal and have no root hairs. They usually do not possess typical stems. Plants typically have calcium oxalate crystals or raphides, milky or watery latex, or rarely colored latex. Leaves may appear before or after the inflorescence, and cataphylls are often seen. Leaves are alternate, bifacial, spiral, distichous, or rarely solitary. A petiole is almost always present, and bases are sheathing with a membranous sheath. The leaf blade is simple or compound and sometimes is perforate or fenestrate. Leaf shape is elliptic to obovate or spatulate and sometimes sagittate–cordate. Venation can be parallel, pinnate-netted, or palmate-netted. 

Uses of Araceae 

Many Araceae are toxic due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals which can irritate the digestive tract when ingested. Despite this, however, many are important food sources in tropical regions, including Alocasia, Amorphophallus, Colocasia esculenta (taro), Monstera, and Xanthosoma sagittifolium. Some are used as traditional herbal medicines or their roots are used for fiber or arrow poisons. Many genera are cultivated worldwide as ornamentals both outdoors and indoors as house plants, including Dieffenbachia, Caladium, Philodendron, Zantedeschia, and many more. The Araceae also have unique plants such as Amorphophallus titanum, which has the most massive inflorescence in all the Angiosperms, and Wolffia spp, which have the smallest flowers.   

Morphology of Araceae in North America

Lysichiton americanus of the Orontioideae subfamily with its enclosing spathe that opens vertically, leaves lack stems and grow in a basal rosette. Araceae family
Lysichiton americanus of the Orontioideae subfamily with its enclosing spathe that opens vertically, leaves lack stems and grow in a basal rosette.
Arisaema triphyllum of the Aroideae subfamily with its green spadix enclosed in a spathe with a hooded top. Leaves with long stems from the ground. Araceae family
Arisaema triphyllum of the Aroideae subfamily with its green spadix enclosed in a spathe with a hooded top. Leaves with long stems from the ground.
Anthurium andraeanum of the Pothoideae subfamily is a common houseplant, its spathe does not enclose the flower when it matures. Araceae family
Anthurium andraeanum of the Pothoideae subfamily is a common houseplant, its spathe does not enclose the flower when it matures. Leaves with long stems.
Lemna minor of the Lemnoideae subfamily, a free floating aquatic with thalloid leaves and roots, flower is reduced to a single stamen & ovary in a pouch. Araceae family.
Lemna minor of the Lemnoideae subfamily, a free floating aquatic with thalloid leaves and roots, flower is reduced to a single stamen & ovary in a pouch.
Arum italicum of the Aroideae subfamily in cultivation. Shows the heads of berries that are common with much of the Araceae family.
Arum italicum of the Aroideae subfamily in cultivation. Shows the heads of berries that are common with much of the Araceae family.
Arum italicum of the Aroideae subfamily in cultivation. These have a vertically opening spathe that is much larger than its spadix. Araceae family
Arum italicum of the Aroideae subfamily in cultivation. These have a vertically opening spathe that is much larger than its spadix.

Araceae Species I have Covered So Far

Aroideae Subfamily

Arisaema dracontium the Green Dragon native to E North America inc NE Mexico. It has a very long tip to its spadix. Araceae family

Arisaema dracontium – Green Dragon

Herbaceous perennial with one leaf that is compound and divided into two leaflets that are again palmately divided into 5 – 15 leaflets each. Flowers are in a very spadix that sticks out well beyond the sheath, several inches or more. Native to eastern North America, including northeastern Mexico.

Arisaema quinatum is sometimes a subspecies of Q. triphyllum and differs by having 5 leaves. This was in Georgia, USA; Araceae family

Arisaema quinatum or A. triphyllum ssp quinatum – Southern Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Herbaceous perennial with 3 leaflets per leaf but the lateral leaflets are deeply 2-lobed making it look like it has 5 leaflets. Flowers in a spadix enclosed by a fleshy hooded sheath. Endemic to southeastern USA from Texas east to North Carolina.

Arisaema triphyllum is native through east North America inc northeast Mexico. This was in Virginia. Araceae family

Arisaema triphyllum – Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Herbaceous perennial with trifoliate compound leaves on long petioles from the ground up. Flowres are in a narrow spadix enclosed by a green or purplish hooded sheath. Flowers are in a thin green spadix that is closed by a hooded sheath. Native through eastern North America.

Arum italicum in cultivation in Georgia. It has sagittate leaves and a large yellow spathe that surrounds its spadix; Araceae family.

Arum italicum – Italian Arum

Herbaceous perennial with large showy sagittate leaves and a large white or yellow spathe that surrounds its white to reddish spadix. Native to the Mediterranean and cultivated in North America.

Calla palustris sometimes in own Calloideae subfamily, native to north temperate regions. This was in Midland, MI, USA; Araceae family.

Calla palustris – Bog Arum

Aquatic perennial with rounded to cordate leaves 6 – 10 cm long and nearly or as wide on 10 – 20 cm petiole. Flowers in a greenish-yellow spadix and enclosed by a white sheath. Fruit is a cluster of red berries. Native to cool temperate areas of the northern hemisphere. This was in Midland, MI, USA.

Colocasia esculenta or Taro is native to S Asia but introduced in North America & is invasive. This was in Hotsprings, AR, USA; Araceae family.

Colocasia esculenta – Taro

Herbaceous perennial from an edible corm with large sagittate leaves on long thick petioles. Spreads vegetatively and rarely flowers. Native to tropical eastern Asia but introduced in North America, and is invasive. This was in Hotsprings, AR, USA

Peltandra virginica or Green Arrow Arum is native through east North America. This was near Atlanta, GA, USA; Araceae family.

Peltandra virginica – Green Arrow Arum

Mostly aquatic herbaceous perennial with large sagittate leaves, pale green to white inflorescences enclosed in a darker colored spathe. Grows in wet, swampy areas. Native throughout eastern North America.

Lemnoideae Subfamily

Lemna minor Common Duckweed is native all over North America & elsewhere. This was in Sinaloa, Mexico; Araceae family.

Lemna minor – Common Duckweed

A tiny floating aquatic with two (1 – 4) small leaves and a single free-floating root. Spreads vegetatively. Flowers are rare and inconspicuous.

Orontioideae Subfamily

Lysichiton americanus – Skunk Cabbage

An herbaceous perennial of wet, soggy soils and swampy areas. It has large sessile ovate leaves and a large yellow spathe encasing a rough greenish-yellow spadix. Has a strong skunky odor. Native to northwest North America.

Pothoideae Subfamily

Anthurium andraeanum – Painter’s Pallette

A tropical perennial plant that is often cultivated as a house plant. It has colorful orange to reddish spathes that do not enclose the yellow spadix. It is native to Colombia & Ecuador.

Taxonomy of Araceae

Approximately 3500 – 4800 spp in 139 genera and currently eight accepted subfamilies that are currently undergoing revisions: 

  1. Aroideae – Aroideae possess highly variable growth forms and growth forms making generalizations difficult. They have staminate flowers with connate stamens with a thick connective. Their pistillate flowers have staminodes. Neither flower type has a perianth. Stigmas, placentation, ovules, etc are all variable. Their distribution is cosmopolitan.
  2. Gymnostachydoideae – Leaves are two-ranked, linear, margins are minutely toothed, and there is no distinction between the blade and petiole. Their inflorescences are branched. These are restricted to eastern Australia. 
  3. Lasioideae – These are often prickly, rooted aquatics. Their petioles are long, warty, aculeate, or brightly colored, and their spathe is often spirally twisted.  Their inflorescence flowers basipetally, and they may or may not have a perianth. They have up to 12 stamens, and their anthers have oblique pore-like slits. They are found pantropically. 
  4. Lemnoideae – Small floating aquatic herbs with 0-5 unbranched hairless roots. They are made of thalloid stem-leaf units that possess only a primary vein without any vascular tissue. They have no perianth and possess only one stamen and one gynoecium. They have a cosmopolitan distribution.
  5. Monsteroideae – Herbs, climbers, and epiphytes. Their pollen is inaperturate, the style has abundant trichosclereids, ovules 1-4(-many) per carpel are often basal or sometimes hemianatropous, and there are more than 10 seeds per fruit that are often embedded in mucilage. Distribution is pantropical. 
  6. Orontioideae – A variable group that has no vessels, possesses biforine raphides (exc Lysichiton), leaf blades have a midrib (exc Orontium), have flowers with usually inferior ovaries (exc Orontium), may or may not have styles. Their ovules are either hemianatropous or basal. Distribution is north temperate. 
  7. Pothoideae – The spathe does not enclose the spadix, may be erect to reflexed and is persistent in the fruit. Placentation of ovules is basal or parietal. Distribution is pantropical, excluding Africa. 
  8. Zamioculcadoideae – Rhizomatous plants with leaves that are usually 1-3-compound or simple in Stylochaeton. Leaf fine venation is reticulate, and the leaves are pulvinate along the petiole or petiolules.  They have staminate and pistillate flowers. Placentation of ovules is axile and there is one ascending ovule per carpel. Distribution is restricted to Africa.  

Genera:

Aroideae: Adelonema (16), Aglaodorum (1), Aglaonema (27), Alocasia (104), Ambrosina (1), Amorphophallus (235), Anchomanes (6), Anubias (9), Apoballis (12), Aridarum (26), Ariopsis (3), Arisaema (205), Arisarum (6), Arophyton (7), Arum (59), Asterostigma (8), Bakoa (4), Biarum (21), Bognera (1), Bucephalandra (30), Caladium (20-38), Calla (1-2), Callopsis (1), Carlephyton (4), Cercestis (16), Chlorospatha (69), Colletogyne (1), Colobogynium (1), Colocasia (12-17), Croatiella (1), Cryptocoryne (68), Culcasia (30), Dieffenbachia (57-186), Dracunculus (2), Eminium (9), Englerarum (1), Fenestratarum (2), Filarum (1), Furtadoa (4), Galantharum (1), Gamogyne (1), Gearum (1), Gorgonidium (8), Hapaline (8), Helicodiceros (1), Hestia (1), Heteroaridarum (1), Homalomena (145), Hottarum (1), Idimanthus (1), Incarum (1), Jasarum (1), Lagenandra (15), Leucocasia (1), Lorenzia (1), Mangonia (2), Melioblastis (?), Montrichardia (2), Nephthytis (6), Ooia (10), Peltandra (2-4), Philodendron (489-674), Philonotion (3), Phymatarum (1), Pichinia (1), Pinellia (9), Piptospatha (16), Pistia (1), Protarum (1), Pseudohydrosme (2), Remusatia (4), Rhynchopyle (2), Sauromatum (10), Scaphispatha (2), Schismatoglottis (155), Schottariella (1), Schottarum (2), Spathantheum (1), Spathicarpa (3), Stauromatum (?), Steudnera (11), Synandrospadix (1), Syngonium (38-39), Taccarum (6), Thaumatophyllum (19-21), Theriophonum (5), Typhonium (77-82), Typhonodorum (1), Ulearum (2), Vietnamocasia (?), Xanthosoma (98-196), Zantedeschia (8), Zara (?), Zomicarpa (2), Zomicarpella (2). Gymnostachydoideae: Gymnostachys (1). Lasioideae: Dracontioides (2), Dracontium (29-30).  Lemnoideae: Anaphyllopsis (3), Anaphyllum (2), Cyrtosperma (13), Lasia (3),Lasimorpha (1), Lemna (13-18), Podolasia (1), Pycnospatha (2), Spirodela (4), Urospatha (11), Wolffia (11), Wolffiella (10). Monsteroideae: Alloschemone (2), Amydrium (5),Anadendrum (12), Epipremnum (15), Heteropsis (19-20), Holochlamys (1), Massovia (?), Monstera (49-69), Rhaphidophora (102), Rhodospatha (30-41), Scindapsus (38), Spathiphyllum (52-60), Stenospermation (52-81). Orontioideae: Lysichiton (3), Lysichitum (1), Orontium (1),Symplocarpus (6). Pothoideae: Anthurium (1139),Pedicellarum (1), Potha (?), Pothoidium (1), Pothos (79), Tapanawa (?). Zamioculcadoideae: Gonatopus (5), Stylochaeton Lepr. (20), Stylochaeton Schott (23), Zamioculcas (1).

Key Differences From Similar Families

The Araceae are differentiated from similar families with their spadix of numerous small flowers with their unique subtending spathes, their leaves with either parallel or netted venation (unlike only parallel in most monocots), their raphide crystals, and their seeds with endosperm.     

Distribution of Araceae

The Araceae are most diverse in the neotropics of the Americas but are also found in the Old World tropics and temperate regions.

Distribution of Araceae in the Americas

Canadian Genera Include:

Aroideae: Arisaema 2 of 205 cosmopolitan spp native MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE; Arum 1 of 59 Eurasian spp intro BC; Peltandra 1 of 2 E NAM endemic spp native ON, QC; Pinellia 1 of 9 Asia spp ephemeral intro ON; Pistia 1 of 1 pantropical spp intro ON. Calloideae (now a tribe of Aroideae): Calla 1 of 1 north temperate spp native all of Canada except NT. Lemnoideae: Lemna 6 of 18 cosmopolitan spp native all of Canada exc NF where it was intro; Spirodela 1 of 4 cosmopolitan spp native BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, Wolffia 4 of 11 cosmopolitan spp inc 3 native BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB and 1 intro ON. Orontioideae: Lysichiton 1 of 3 north temperate spp native BC; Symplocarpus 1 of 6 north temperate spp native ON, QC, NB, NS.

USA Genera Include:

Aroideae: Aglaonema 1 of 27 Asian spp intro FL; Alocasia 1 of 104 Australian/Asian spp intro FL, TX, HI; Arisaema 2 of 205 cosmopolitan spp native E USA from ND S to TX and all states E of that; Arum 2 of 59 Eurasian spp intro WA, OR, CA, MO, IL, VI, SC; Caladium 1 of 38 SAM spp intro LA, FL; Calla 1 of 1 north temperate spp native ND, MN, IA, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, PA, MD, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME; Colocasia 1 of 12 Asian spp intro TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, PA, and HI; Cryptocoryne 1 of 68 Asian spp intro TX, FL; Dracunculus 1 of 2 spp intro OR, CA, TN; Peltandra 2 of 2 E NAM spp native OR, CA, OK, TX plus E USA from MN S to LA and all states east, inc 1 endemic to SE USA; Philodendron 1 of 564 of tropical Americas spp intro FL and HI; Pinellia 1 of 9 E Asia spp intro CA, OH, WV, MD, NJ, PA, NY, CT; Pistia 1 of 1 pantropical spp native CA, AZ, CO, KA, TX, MO, LA, MS, GA, FL, SC, NC, OH, MD, DE, NY, NJ, CT; Syngonium 1 of 38 neotropical spp intro FL; Xanthosoma 2 of 98 neotropical spp intro TX, FL, and HI; Zantedeschia 2 of 8 S Africa spp intro CA, OR, PA, and HI. Lemnoideae: Lemna 9 of 18 cosmopolitan spp native throughout entire USA inc AK and HI; Spirodela 2 of 4 cosmopolitan spp native entire continental USA and HI; Wolffia 7 of 11 cosmopolitan spp native most of USA exc NV, AZ, NM, CO; Wolffiella 5 of 10 Cosmopolitan spp native WA, CA, TX, OK, MO, AR, LA, IL, IN, OH, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, PA, NJ, MA. Monsteroideae: Epipremnum 1 of 15 Asian spp intro FL and HI. Orontioideae: Lysichiton 1 of 3 north temperate spp native AK, WA, OR, CA, ID, MT, WY; Orontium 1 of 1 E USA endemic spp native TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, KY, TN, WV, VI, MD, DE, NJ, PA, NY, CT, RI, MA; Symplocarpus 2 of 6 north temperate spp native MN, IA, WI, IL, IN, OH, KY, TN, NC, VI, WV, MI, PA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME.

Mexico Genera Include:

Aroideae: Aglaonema 1 of 27 Asian spp intro Nl, Sin, Jal, Son, Ver, Gro, Chi, Tab, Cam; Alocasia 5 of 104 Australian/Asian spp intro Sin E to Coa and all S Mexico; Arisaema 4 of 205 cosmopolitan spp native (and 1 intro) Sin, NL, Nay, Tam, SLP, Jal, Col, Mic, Mex, Pue, Gro, Ver, Oax, Chi; Arum 1 of 59 Eurasian spp intro NL, Jal, Mex; Dieffenbachia 2 of 57 neotropical spp native Sin to S NL and all through S Mexico; Dracontium 1 of 29 neo endemic spp a narrow endemic of SW Chi; Dracunculus 1 of 2 spp intro Chi, Cam; Leucocasia 1 of 1 S Asia spp intro Jal, Pue; Peltandra 1 of 2 E NAM spp intro Tlx; Philodendron 21 of 564 of tropical Americas spp native Sin to S NL and all through S Mexico; Pinellia 1 of 9 E Asia spp intro Mex; Pistia 1 of 1 pantropical spp native throughout Mexico; Syngonium 9 of 38 neotropical spp native BCS, Sin E to NL and all through S Mexico; Thaumatophyllum 3 of 19 N SAM spp intro Sin, Nay, Jal, Col, Ag, SLP, Gto, Cd Mex, Mex, Pue, Mic, Oax, Ver, Chi, Tab, Yuc, QR; Typhonium 1 of 77 Asia spp intro Oax, Pue, Ver, Chi, SLP; Xanthosoma 8 of 98 neotropical spp native most of Mexico exc Chi, BCN, Son; Zantedeschia 1 of 8 S Africa spp intro Mex. Lemnoideae: Lemna 7 of 18 cosmopolitan spp native throughout entire Mexico; Wolffia 2 of 11 cosmopolitan spp native Jal, Nay, Gto, Chi, Mex, Qro, Mor, Cd Mex; Wolffiella 4 of 10 Cosmopolitan spp native NE+C+SE Mexico; Monsteroideae: Monstera 13 of 49 neotropical spp native Sin E to NL and all through S Mexico; Rhodospatha 1 of 30 neotropical spp native Ver, Chi; Spathiphyllum 5 of 52 Neo & W Pacific spp inc 4 native, 1 intro to Nay E to Ver and all of S Mexico, inc 1 endemic to SE Mexico. Pothoideae: Anthurium 31 of 1139 neotropical spp native (and 1 intro) Sin to S NL and throughout S Mexico. Zamioculcadoideae: Zamioculcas 1 of 1 Africa spp intro QR.

Neotropical Genera Include:

Aroideae: Adelonema 16 of 16 spp Neo endemic spp native Costa RIca, Panama, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, N Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname; Aglaonema 1 of 27 Asian spp intro Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuelan Antilles; Alocasia 5 of 104 Australian/Asian spp intro Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Leeward & Windward Is, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuelan Antilles, NE BRazil, Venezuela, Paraguay, Galapagos; Amorphophallus 1 of 235 Old World Tropics spp intro Trinidad-Tobago; Arum 1 of 59 Eurasian spp intro NE Argentina; Asterostigma 8 of 8 W SAM endemic spp native NE+C+SE+S Brazil, NE Argentina; Bognera 1 of 1 sp endemic to N Brazil; Caladium 20 of 20 neotropical endemic spp native Honduras S to Peru, NW Argentina, Brazil, and intro Cubo, Hispaniola, Purto Rico, Leeward & Windward Is, Venezuelan Antilles, Trinidad-Tobago and pantropical; Chlorospatha 69 of 69 Neo endemic spp native Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador; Colocasia 2 of 17 Asian spp intro Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Leeward & Windward Is, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuelan Antilles, Galapagos, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa RIca, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, N+NE+S Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay; Croatiella 1 of 1 sp endemic to Ecuador; Dieffenbachia 57 of 57 neotropical endemic spp native S Mexico S to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc Uruguay) inc all of West Indies; Filarum 1 of 1 sp endemic to Peru; Gearum 1 of 1 sp endemic to N+C Brazil; Gorgonidium 8 of 8 SAM endemic spp native Peru, Bolivia, NW+NE Argentina; Idimanthus 1 of 1 sp endemic to SE Brazil; Incarum 1 of 1 W SAM endemic sp native to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia; Jasarum 1 of 1 N SAM endemic sp native Venezuela, Guyana; Lorenzia 1 of 1 sp endemic to N Brazil; Mangonia 2 of 2 E SAM endemic spp native S Brazil, Uruguay; Montrichardia 2 of 2 Neo endemic spp native Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua S to Peru, Bolivia, N+SE Brazil, Trinidad-Tobago, Leeward & Windward Is; Peltandra 1 of 2 E NAM spp native Cuba; approx 564 of 564 Americas endemic spp native from Mexico S through to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc Uruguay) and inc all of the West Indies; Philonotion 3 of 3 N SAM endemic spp native Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, N Brazil, Peru, Bolivia; Pistia 1 of 1 pantropical spp native throughout CAM, West Indies, and SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina; Scaphispatha 2 of 2 N SAM endemic spp native N+C+NE Brazil, Bolivia; Spathantheum 1 of 1 W SAM endemic spp native Peru, Bolivia, NW Argentina; Spathicarpa 3 of 3 SAM endemic spp native Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, NE Argentina, Uruguay; Synandrospadix 1 of 1 sp endemic to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, NW Argentina; Syngonium 38 of 38 Mexico + Neo endemic spp native Mexico So to Peru, Bolivia, C+SE Brazil, Greater Antilles, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuelan Antilles, intro S Brazil, Bahamas, Netherland Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is, and Oceania; Taccarum 6 of 6 SAM endemic spp native Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, NE Argentina; Thaumatophyllum 19 of 19 SAM endemic spp native N SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina (exc Uruguay), intro Belize; Typhonium 1 of 77 Asia & Australia spp intro NE+S Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad-Tobago, Windward Is; Ulearum 2 of 2 SAM endemic spp native N Brazil, Ecuador, Peru; Xanthosoma 98 of 98 Americas endemic spp native from Mexico S through to Peru, NW Argentina, Paraguay, S Brazil (exc El Salvador), plus Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Leeward & Windward Is, Trinidad-Tobago, intro to Galapagos, Jamaica, Venezuelan Antilles, Cayman Is; Zantedeschia 1 of 8 S Africa spp intro Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, NE BRazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago; Zomicarpa 2 of 2 spp endemic to NE Brazil; Zomicarpella 2 of 2 N SAM endemic spp native Colombia, N Brazil, Peru. Lasioideae: Dracontioides 2 of 2 spp endemic to NE+SE Brazil; Dracontium 29 of 29 Neo endemic spp native S Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peurto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Windward Is, Nicaragua S to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, C+SE Brazil. Lemnoideae: Anaphyllopsis 3 of 2 N SAM endemic spp native Venezuela, French Guiana, Suriname, N Brazil; Lemna 4 of 18 cosmopolitan spp native throughout the entire Neotropical zone S to C Chile, Argentina; Spirodela 3 of 4 cosmopolitan spp inc 2 native and 1 intro throughout all of Neo zone exc Guyana, French Guiana, Galapagos, N Chile; Urospatha 11 of 11 Neo endemic spp native Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua S to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, C+SE Brazil; Wolffia 5 of 11 cosmopolitan spp inc 3 native (inc 1 endemic to Colombia) and 2 intro, found in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Greater & Lesser Antilles (exc Venezuelan Antilles), Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, C Chile, NE+NW Argentina; Wolffiella 5 of 10 Cosmopolitan spp native Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica S to C Chile, N Argentina (exc N Chile), plus Greater Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is, Trinidad-Tobago. Monsteroideae: Alloschemone 2 of 2 N SAM endemic spp native N Brazil, Bolivia; Epipremnum 1 of 15 S Asia spp intro Bermuda, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Leeward & Windward Is, Venezuelan Antilles, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, E Brazil; Heteropsis 19 of 19 Neo endemic spp native Nicaragua S to Peru, Bolivia, N Brazil, plus NE+S+SE Brazil; Monstera 49 of 49 neotropical endemic spp native Mexico S through to Peru, Bolivia, C+S Brazil, Leeward & Windward Is, Netherlands Antilles, intro to Puerto Rico and Asia; Rhodospatha 30 of 30 neotropical spp native S Mexico S to Peru, Bolivia, N+SE Brazil (exc El Salvador), Trinidad-Tobago; Spathiphyllum ?? of 52 Neo, Malesia & W Pacific spp native S Mexico S to Peru, N+C+SE Brazil, Trinidad-Tobago and intro to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuelan Antilles; Stenospermation 52 of 52 Neo endemic spp native Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua S to Peru, Bolivia, N Brazil, plus SE Brazil. Pothoideae: Anthurium 1139 of 1139 neotropical endemic spp native Mexico all S through to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina exc Uruguay plus all throughout the West Indies exc the Bahamas.

Patagonia Genera Include:

Lemnoideae: Lemna 1 of 18 cosmopolitan spp native SE Argentina; Spirodela 1 of 4 cosmopolitan spp native SE Argentina, C Chile; Wolffiella 1 of 10 Cosmopolitan spp native SE Argentina.        

Additional Information and References

  • Visit Lyrae’s Dictionary of Botanical Terms to learn the terminology of botanists. Note that if you hover over most of the words in the articles you can also get definitions from them there.
  • Willis, Lyrae (2022).  Plant Families of North America.  Not yet published. This is where all of the family descriptions come from. Below should be most of my references for this. Orchids, Poaceae, and Cyperaceae have additional references.
  • Canadensys: Acadia University, Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of British Columbia. http://data.canadensys.net/explorer (accessed 2020 – current)
  • Delta: Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 1992 onwards. The families of Flowering Plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 2nd May 2020. delta-intkey.com’. Accessed Spring through fall of 2020.
  • GBIF.org (2020), GBIF Home Page. Available from: https://www.gbif.org
  • Naturalista: CONABIO http://www.naturalista.mx Accessed 2020 – current.
  • Neotropikey: Milliken, W., Klitgård, B. & Baracat, A. eds (2009 onwards). Neotropikey – Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. www.kew.org/neotropikey.com (accessed 2020 – current).
  • Patagonia Wildflowers: Wildflower Identification Site. https://patagoniawildflowers.org/ Accessed throughout the fall of 2020.
  • POWO (2019). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Retrieved Winter 2020 – current.
  • The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 2020 to 2021). No longer updated. Use WFO below.
  • USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 2 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA; accessed throughout fall of 2020.
  • Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. (2004, July 22). FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved throughout 2019-current, from https://www.wikipedia.org
  • WFO (2022): World Flora Online. Published on the Internet; http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed Spring 2022 – current

9 Sep, 2022