The Arum Family, Araceae, features many fascinating and unusual plants among its 105 genera comprising about 3,000 species. Those cultivating native plants will be familiar with jack-in-the-pulpit and skunk cabbage. In the house, the list extends from Aglaeonema on through Caladium, Calla, Dieffenbachia, Epipremnum, Monstera, Philodendron, Spathiphyllum to Syngonium and many, many others.
Those who avoid botanical names will perhaps be familiar though with Spathiphyllum as the Peace Lily or Spathe Flower. Spathe from the strange white shielding structure that partially envelopes that equally strange, frankly phallic-like erection arising in its centre. Technically this is known as the spadix and is a collection of many minute flowers.
