ARUM IDAEUM

Family:- ARACEAE

Common Name:- None

Synonyms:- None

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

Idaeum (L) From Mount Ida in Crete.

General description:- Medium perennial with vertical, globe-shaped tubers.

Leaves:-

a) appearing in the autumn.

1) Lamina:

a) large, arrowhead shaped, (sagittate).

b) long-stalked.

c) plain, deep shiny green.

Flower:-

1) Spathe:

a) 8-13 cm long.

b) with an inflated tube and a narrow blade.

c) pale milky-white.

2) Spadix:

a) cylindrical, shorter than the spathe.

b) purple or blackish-purple.

Habitat:- Dolines, meadow-like patches in thorncushion communities and Berbris

cretica scrub, open Cupressus woodland. 900-2100 m.

Distribution:- Endemic to the main massifs of Lefki Ori, Kedros, Psiloritis, Dikti

and Afendis Kavousi.

Flowering time:- Mid-Apr to mid-June.

Photo by:- Steve Lenton

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Indeterminate (I) according to IUCN

1997.