Araceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Araceae A.L. Jussieu

Synonym(s): Arisaraceae Raf.; Caladiaceae Salisb.; Callaceae Rchb. ex Bartl.; Cryptocorynaceae J. Agardh; Dracontiaceae Salisb.; Lemnaceae Martinov, nom. cons.; Orontiaceae Bartl.; Pistiaceae Rich. ex C. Agardh; Wolffiaceae Bubani

Common name(s): arum family

*Number of genera/species: 114/3750

List of genera (GRIN-Global)

Disseminule

fruit or seed

Description

Fruit indehiscent, simplesimple:
fruit formed from a single flower with one pistil, solitary carpel or several fused carpels
or rarely multiplemultiple:
fruit formed from several flowers clustered in one mass
, berryberry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
, utricleutricle:
a small, indehiscent, dry fruit with a thin wall (bladderlike) that is loose and free from the seed
(see below), rarely dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
, capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
dehiscing irregularly, 0.5–30 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to polygonalpolygonal:
=angular
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transectiontransection:
a cross section; representing a plane made by cutting across an organ at a right angle to its length
, sometimes with persistent stylesstyles:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
, one to many seeded. Pedicelpedicel:
the stalk of a flower
, perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
or bracts often persistent. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
red, orange, purple, green, yellow, or white, rarely blue or brown, shinyshiny:
uniformly reflecting a high proportion of incident light at all angles
, membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
to fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
, wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
or papillatepapillate:
surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex
.

In Syngonium and Cryptocoryne, fruits united into a syncarpsyncarp:
fruit derived from fusion of numerous ovaries in a many-flowered inflorescence or a flower with numerous carpels
, which is indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
in Syngonium and dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
apically in Cryptocoryne appearing star shaped. BerriesBerries:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
basally dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
in Lagenandra.

In genera formally placed in Lemnaceae (Lemna, Spirodela, Wolffia, and Wolffiella), fruits are usually a one seeded utricleutricle:
a small, indehiscent, dry fruit with a thin wall (bladderlike) that is loose and free from the seed
, often winged laterally near the apexapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ
.

Seed shape variable, sometimes strongly curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
, flattened or tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
 sometimes triangulartriangular:
2D shape—three relatively straight sides with distinct corners; more angular than teardrop-shaped
in transectiontransection:
a cross section; representing a plane made by cutting across an organ at a right angle to its length
, 7–30 mm long, often surrounded by mucilaginousmucilaginous:
resembling mucilage; moist and sticky
pulp, sometimes sticky. Seed coat white, yellow, brown, or black, shinyshiny:
uniformly reflecting a high proportion of incident light at all angles
, variable texture, thickness, and relief, but never pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
.

Operculate in Pistia. Arillate in Area, Arisarum, and Ambrosina. Seeds with long (straight or curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
) micropylar appendages in Bucephalandra, Hottarum, Piptospatha, and Phymatarum. Rapheraphe:
a ridge or seam on the seed coat, formed by the portion of the funiculus united to the ovule wall in longitudinally curved ovules
S-shaped in Monstera.

In Lemna, Spirodela, Wolffia, and Wolffiella, seeds are more or less minute, longitudinally ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
or smooth with pointed operculumoperculum:
a dehiscent cap (or lid) of a seed or fruit that opens during germination or dehiscence
and dark-pointed chalazachalaza:
the region at the base of the ovule where the integuments are inserted
.

Embryo straight if endospermendosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
present or curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
if endospermendosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
lacking; minute and apicalapical:
at or pertaining to the end of the seed or fruit distal from its point of attachment (i.e., base)
in Pistia. Embryo and endospermendosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
, if present, usually chlorophyllous. Endospermendosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
copious to absent.

Habitat and crop association

Aquatic, terrestrial, and epiphytic plants. More about aquatic plants that are introduced or weedy in the US, here. 

Identification features

Fruit
Type	capsule, berryberry: an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa. , utricle
Size range	0.5–30 mm long
Shape(s)	ovoid, ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , teardrop-shapedteardrop-shaped: 2D shape—widest point is toward one end of the fruit, the other end tapers sharply to a pointed end , cylindricalcylindrical: 3D shape—a cylinder, with parallel sides and a circular cross-section; tubular or rod-shaped , globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , cuneiformcuneiform: =wedge-shaped , polygonalpolygonal: =angular , trigonous
Texture	chartaceous, membranousmembranous: texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough , fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut , leathery
Surface relief	wrinkled, papillatepapillate: surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex , ribbed
Color(s)	blue, brown, green, orange, purple, red, white, yellow
Seed
Size range	0.7–30 mm long
Shape(s)	ellipsoid, reniformreniform: 2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped , globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , cylindricalcylindrical: 3D shape—a cylinder, with parallel sides and a circular cross-section; tubular or rod-shaped , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends , cordiform
Surface relief	wrinkled, ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface , ridgedridged: surface relief—raised, thick ridges, sharp edged or rounded, usually in a series that may cover the entire surface , roughenedroughened: texture—having a small, stout, stiff, more or less acute protrusions , wrinkledwrinkled: surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out , striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges , reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces , ruminateruminate: testa or seed coat folded into the endosperm , pittedpitted: surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net , warty
Color(s)	white, brown, yellow, black
Other
Embryo	straight or curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart , usually chlorophyllous
Nutritive tissuenutritive tissue: tissue within the seeds that nourishes the developing embryo; such as endosperm, perisperm, or chalazosperm in angiosperms; megagametophyte in gymnosperms	endosperm endosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds copious to absent, sometimes chlorophyllous

Distribution

World-wide distribution.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Baskin and Baskin 2021Baskin and Baskin 2021:
Baskin C and Baskin J. 2021. Relationship of the lateral embryo (in grasses) to other monocot embryos: A status up-grade. Seed Science Research 31 (3): 199-210. doi:10.1017/S0960258521000209; Cronquist 1981Cronquist 1981:
Cronquist A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants. Columbia University Press, New York. 1261 pp.; Dahlgren et al. 1985Dahlgren et al. 1985:
Dahlgren RMT, Clifford HT, and Yeo PF. 1985. The families of the monocotyledons: structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 520 pp.; Flora of Australia 2021+Flora of Australia 2021+:
Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Accessed January 2021–March 2024. URL: http://www.ausflora.org.au; Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+:
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. Flora of North America Association, New York and Oxford. Accessed January-March 2024. URL: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org.; Hepper 1973Hepper 1973:
Hepper FN. 1973. Lemnaceae. In: Polhill RM, ed. Flora of Tropical East Africa Vol 96. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London UK. 9 pp.; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; Mayo 1985Mayo 1985:
Mayo SJ. 1985. Araceae. In: Polhill RM, ed. Flora of Tropical East Africa. AA Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 71 pp.; Thiselton-Dyer 1897Thiselton-Dyer 1897:
Thiselton-Dyer WT. 1897. Flora capensis: being a systematic description of the plants of the Cape colony, Caffraria, amp; Port Natal (and neighbouring territories). Vol. 7. L. Reeve, Kent UK. 791 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.821; Tropicos.org 2021; Tutin et al. 1964–1980Tutin et al. 1964–1980:
Tutin TG, Burges NA, Chater AO, Edmondson JR, Heywood VH, Moore DM, Valentine DH, Walters SM, and Webb DA (eds.) 1964–1980. Flora Europaea. 5 vols. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK. 2,524 pp.; Zhengyi et al. 2004+Zhengyi et al. 2004+:
Zhengyi W, Raven PH, and Deyuan H. 2004+. Flora of China [online]. 25 vols. Science Press, Beijing China & Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis USA. Accessed January–March 2024. http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.