ARUM ALPINUM

Family and Genus:- See- ARACEAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Arum cylindraceum

Meaning:- Arum (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus.

Alpinum (L) Of the mountains, alpine.

General description:- A short to medium perennial, with a horizontal tuber, often

patch-forming.

Leaves:-

1) Appearing in the autumn, triangular-cordate, with the basal lobes diverging and

with conspicuous white or cream veins.

Flower:-

1) Spathe, 15-30 cm long, drooping at the pointed apex, pale yellowish occasionally

edges flushed with purple.

2) Spadix, very small, cylindrical, brownish to dull purple, occasionally yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Spike, large, 10-15 cm long.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Moist, generally shaded habitats, hedgerows, scrub and rocky places.

Distribution:- Widespread in central and southern Europe, reaching the south-

eastern extremity of its distribution in Crete where it is not common and has a

restricted distribution.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- By kind permission of Saxifraga - Free Nature Images