Aroids Plants of the Arum Family Author:Deni Bown Originally published in 1988 as the first truly comprehensive review of one of the largest and most popular plant families, Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family was enthusiastically welcomed by botanists and horticulturists alike for its attention to scientific detail and delightful writing style. Now in this completely updated second edition, we l... more »earn of discoveries made in the last decade as the family has grown from about 2500 species to nearer 3200. The latest taxonomic and nomenclature revisions are noted in the checklist of genera, and all the original drawings are included plus twice as many color photos. A new guide to the cultivation of ornamental aroids completes this well-rounded introduction to a remarkable family. Aroids are best known for their dramatic foliage and unique floral structure, but because they grow in dissimilar environmental conditions from tropical rain forest to semi-desert, wetlands, and mountain regions, they are not readily recognized as a group. Among their number are jack-in-the-pulpit, calla lily, and skunk cabbage; many well-known tropical houseplants such as philodendron, caladium, and swiss cheese plant; exotics such as the voodoo lily and corpse flower; and a staple root crop, taro. What unites and distinguishes this complex family is its inflorescence consisting of tiny flowers on a thick spike (spadix) surrounded by a hood-like leaf (spathe). In this compelling natural history, Deni Bown emphasizes the habitats and ecology of aroids, their anatomy and reproduction, their medicinal and folk uses, and their potential as food crops. All the aroids have devised cunning schemes to attract pollinators and survive adverse conditions, from the extraordinary mouse plant, which emits a mushroom-like smell and mimics the underside of a fungus to lure fungus gnats, to the ordinary jack-in-the-pulpit, which changes sex from year to year depending on environmental conditions. Other bizarre features of the aroid lifecycle are described in depth as the author covers representative species in the aroid genera. While many aroids are grown as indoor plants for their visual impact and others are among the most popular ornamentals for aquaria, still others are coveted garden plants. For all that grow them or wish to grow them, this readable and inspiring guide provides a complete picture of their numerous attractive qualities and cultivation requirements.« less