Arum italicum is a species of flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the family Araceae, also known as Italian arum and Italian lords-and-ladies.[2] It is native to the British Isles[3] and much of the Mediterranean region, the Caucasus, Canary Islands, Madeira and northern Africa. It is also naturalized in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Argentina, North Island New Zealand and scattered locations in North America.[1][4][5][6][7]
| Arum italicum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Genus: | Arum |
| Species: | A. italicum
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| Binomial name | |
| Arum italicum | |
| Subspecies[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Species
subsp. albispathum subsp. canariense
subsp. italicum
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Description
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024) |
Arum italicum grows 30–46 cm (1–1.5 ft) high, with equal spread. It blooms in spring with white flowers that turn to showy red fruit.[2]
In 1778, Lamarck noticed that the inflorescence of this plant produces heat.[8][9]
A. italicum generally has a chromosome count of 2n = 84, except that a few subspecies (such as subsp. albispathum) have 2n = 56.[10]
Taxonomy
editWithin the genus, A. italicum belongs to subgenus Arum, section Arum.[10]
Arum italicum may hybridize with Arum maculatum.[11] The status of two subspecies currently included in Arum italicum, subsp. albispathum (Crimea to the Caucasus) and subsp. canariense (Macaronesia), is uncertain and they may represent independent species.[12]
Distribution and habitat
editThis section needs expansion with: habitat details. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024) |
Arum italicum nativity by subspecies is as follows:[1]
- A. italicum subsp. italicum is native to Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, France, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, and Yugoslavia.
- A. italicum subsp. albispathum is native to Krym, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, and Turkey.
- A. italicum subsp. canariense is native to Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira.
- A. italicum subsp. neglectum is native to Algeria, France, Great Britain, Morocco, and Spain.
Subspecies italicum has a multi-continental introduced presence, including in northeast Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, north New Zealand, and the U.S. states of Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New York, and North Carolina.[1]
Invasive species
editArum italicum can be invasive in some areas, particularly in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.[13][14][15] It is very difficult to control once established. Herbicides kill the foliage of the plant, but may not affect the tuber. Manual control may spread the plants through the dissemination of soil contaminated with bulb and root fragments.[16]
Toxicity
editLeaves, fruits and rhizomes contain compounds that make them poisonous. Notably, the plants are rich in oxalates. The ingestion of the plant may be fatal, as it affects the kidneys, digestive tract, and brain.[17]
Cultivation
editIt is cultivated as an ornamental plant for traditional and woodland shade gardens.[2] Subspecies italicum (the one normally grown in horticulture) has distinctive pale veins on the leaves, whilst subspecies neglectum (known as late cuckoo pint[18]) has faint pale veins, and the leaves may have dark spots.[19] Nonetheless, intermediates between these two subspecies also occur, and their distinctiveness has been questioned.[12][20] Some gardeners use this arum to underplant with Hosta, as they produce foliage sequentially: when the Hosta withers away, the arum replaces it in early winter, maintaining ground-cover.[13] Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which A. italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[21]
Gallery
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Bulbs -
Mature leaves -
Spathe -
Ripe berries -
Botanical illustration -
Leaves of cultivar 'Marmoratum'
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Arum italicum Mill". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "Arum italicum - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ P.A. Stroh; T. A. Humphrey; R.J. Burkmar; O.L. Pescott; D.B. Roy; K.J. Walker (eds.). "Arum italicum Mill". BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Govaerts, R. & Frodin, D.G. (2002). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae): 1-560. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ Castroviejo, S. & al. (eds.) (2008). Flora Iberica 18: 1-420. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid.
- ^ Dobignard, D. & Chatelain, C. (2010). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 1: 1-455. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
- ^ "Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map". bonap.net.
- ^ Meeuse, B.J.D. 1975. Films of liquid crystals as an aid in pollination studies. In Pollination and Dispersal, ed N.B.M. Brantjes, H.F. Linskens, pp 19-20. Nijmegen. The Netherlands: Dep. Botany, Univ. Nijmegen.
- ^ Pfeffer, W. (Wilhelm); Ewart, Alfred J. (Alfred James) (1906). The physiology of plants; a treatise upon the metabolism and sources of energy in plants. MBLWHOI Library. Oxford, Clarendon press.
- ^ a b Boyce, Peter (1993). The Genus Arum. London: HMSO. ISBN 0-11-250085-4.
- ^ Plantsman v13:3, p142, September 2014; Royal Horticultural Society
- ^ a b Boyce, P.C. (2002). "Arum - a Decade of Change". Aroideana. 29: 132–139.
- ^ a b "Garden Mastery Tips from Clark County Master Gardeners - Arum italicum" (PDF). ext100.wsu.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-05.
- ^ "Natural Resources & Science - Resource Stewardship & Science - Region 1 NCA (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "Invasive Italian arum". West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Control Options for Italian Arum". Whatcom County, Washington. Whatcom County Noxious Weed Board. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ Prakash Raju, K. N. J.; Goel, Kishen; Anandhi, D.; Pandit, Vinay R.; Surendar, R.; Sasikumar, M. (2018). "Wild tuber poisoning: Arum maculatum – A rare case report". International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science. 8 (2): 111–114. doi:10.4103/IJCIIS.IJCIIS_9_18. ISSN 2229-5151. PMC 6018264. PMID 29963416.
- ^ "Arum italicum subspecies neglectum - Late Cuckoo Pint (Araceae Images)". www.aphotoflora.com. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27.
- ^ C T Prime (1961). "Taxonomy and Nomenclature in Some Species of the Genus Arum L" (PDF). Watsonia. 5 (2): 106–9.
- ^ Boyce, P.C. (2006). "New Observations on Arum italicum". The Plantsman. 5 (1): 36–39.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Arum italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum'". Retrieved 19 February 2020.
External links
edit
- Missouri Botanical Garden - Kemper Center for Home Gardening - Arum italicum
- Invasive Plant Atlas Italian arum - Arum italicum