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brief rework intro per sources and corrected details

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{{Short description|Family of flowering plants}}
{{Distinguish|Arecaceae|Araliaceae}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|115|0}}[[Aptian|Early Cretaceous]]<ref name=Sender /> - Recent
| image = Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum RTBG.jpg
| image_caption = Inflorescence of ''[[Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum]]''
| taxon = Araceae
| authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]]<ref name="apgiii">{{Citation |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free }}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision = * [[Gymnostachydoideae]]
* [[Orontioideae]]
* [[Lemnoideae]]
* [[Pothoideae]]
* [[Monsteroideae]]
* [[Lasioideae]]
* [[Zamioculcadoideae]]
* [[Aroideae]]
}}
[[File:044 Dracunculus vulgaris at Akrotiri peninsula, Crete, Greece.jpg|thumb|Snake lily (''[[Dracunculus vulgaris]]'') in [[Crete]]]][[File:Xanthosoma sagittifolium at Kadavoor.jpg|thumb|arrowleaf elephant ear (''[[Xanthosoma sagittifolium]]''), clearly showing the characteristic spadix and spathe]]The '''Araceae''' are a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[monocotyledon]]ous [[flowering plant]]s in which [[flower]]s are borne on a type of [[inflorescence]] called a [[spadix (botany)|spadix]]. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a [[spathe]] (or leaf-like [[bract]]). Also known as the '''arum family''', members are often colloquially known as '''aroids'''. This family of 140 [[genera]] and about 4,075 known species<ref name="Christenhusz-Byng2016">{{cite journal |author1=Christenhusz, M. J. M. |author2=Byng, J. W. |name-list-style=amp | year = 2016 | title = The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase | journal = Phytotaxa | volume = 261 | pages = 201–217 | url = http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/download/phytotaxa.261.3.1/20598 | doi = 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 | issue = 3 | publisher = Magnolia Press | doi-access = free }}</ref> is most diverse in the [[New World]] tropics, although also distributed in the [[Old World]] tropics and northern [[temperate regions]].

Many species display very decorative leaves and flowers, and they are widely used for gardening; popular as indoor plants and also outdoor plants where climates are mild, and winter freezes will not generally occur. However, some temperate species are also very popular in [[Mediterranean]]-climate gardening, or in moderately cool temperate zones, such as ''[[Zantedeschia]]''.

==Description==

Species within Araceae are often [[rhizomatous]] or [[tuber]]ous, and the leaves nearly always contain [[calcium oxalate]] crystals or [[raphide]]s, in varying degrees.<ref name=Efloras>{{cite web|title=Araceae in Flora of North America @ efloras.org|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10056|work=Efloras.org|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=Gflora>{{cite web|title=Araceae - Encyclopedia of House Plants|url=http://www.gflora.com/index.php?cmd=genus&family_id=7|work=gflora.com|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref> The [[leaves]] can vary considerably from species to species. The [[inflorescence]] is composed of a spadix, which is almost always surrounded by a modified leaf called a [[spathe]].<ref name=Hawaii>{{cite web|title=Araceae - Flowering Plant Families, UH Botany|url=http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/ar.htm|work=University of Hawaii|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref> In [[monoecious]] aroids (possessing separate male and female flowers, but with both flowers present on one plant), the spadix is usually organized with female flowers towards the bottom, and male flowers towards the top. In aroids with [[perfect flower]]s, the [[stigma (flower)|stigma]] is no longer receptive when the [[pollen]] is released, thus preventing self-[[fertilization]]. Some species are [[dioecious]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Araceae|url=http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/classes/bio366/families/Araceae.pdf|work=Iowa State University|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref>

Many plants in this family are [[Thermogenic plants|thermogenic]] (heat-producing).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Korotkova|first1=Nadja|last2=Barthlott|first2=Wilhelm|title=On the thermogenesis of the Titan arum (''Amorphophallus titanum'')|journal=Plant Signaling & Behavior|date=2009|volume=4|issue=11|pages=1096–1098|doi=10.4161/psb.4.11.9872|pmid=19838070|pmc=2819525|doi-access=free}}</ref> Their flowers can reach up to 45 °C even when the surrounding air temperature is much lower. One reason for this unusually high temperature is to attract insects (usually beetles) to pollinate the plant, rewarding the beetles with heat energy. Another reason is to prevent tissue damage in cold regions. Some examples of thermogenic Araceae are:'' [[Symplocarpus foetidus]]'' (eastern skunk cabbage),'' [[Amorphophallus titanum]]'' (titan arum),'' [[Amorphophallus paeoniifolius]]'' (elephant foot yam), ''[[Helicodiceros muscivorus]]'' (dead horse arum lily), and ''[[Sauromatum venosum]]'' (voodoo lily). Some species, such as titan arum and the dead horse arum, give off a very pungent smell akin to rotten meat, which serves to attract flies for pollination. The heat produced by the plant helps to convey the scent further.

===Toxicity===

Within the Araceae, genera such as ''[[Alocasia]]'', ''[[Arisaema]]'', ''[[Caladium]]'', ''[[Colocasia]]'', ''[[Dieffenbachia]]'', ''[[Syngonium]]'', ''[[Epipremnum]]'', ''[[Aglaonema]]'' and ''[[Philodendron]]'' contain calcium oxalate crystals in the form of [[Raphide|raphides]]. When accidentally consumed, these may cause [[edema]], vesicle formation, and [[dysphagia]], accompanied by painful stinging and burning in the mouth and throat, with symptoms occurring for up to two weeks after ingestion. Patients report feeling a mild to extreme sensation of sand or glass in the esophagus and mouth, depending on amount ingested.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Watson|first1=John T.|last2=Jones|first2=Roderick C.|last3=Siston|first3=Alicia M.|last4=Diaz|first4=Pamela S.|last5=Gerber|first5=Susan I.|last6=Crowe|first6=John B.|last7=Satzger|first7=R. Duane|title=Outbreak of Food-borne Illness Associated with Plant Material Containing Raphides|journal=Clinical Toxicology|date=2005|volume=43|issue=1|pages=17–21|doi=10.1081/CLT-44721|pmid=15732442|s2cid=388923}}</ref>

==Taxonomy==

===Phylogeny===
Phylogeny based on the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Website]].<ref>{{cite web |website=[[Angiosperm Phylogeny Website]] |version=13 | last=Stevens | first=P.F. | year=2001 | title=Araceae |url=http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/orders/alismatalesweb.htm#Araceae | access-date= 30 December 2017}}</ref>

{{clade| style=font-size:90%;line-height:80%
|label1='''Araceae'''
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=[[Gymnostachydoideae]] Bogner & Nicolson 1991
|2=[[Orontioideae]] Brown ex Müller 1860
}}
|2={{clade
|1=[[Lemnoideae]]
|2={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=[[Pothoideae]] Engler 1876
|2=[[Monsteroideae]] Engler 1876
}}
|2={{clade
|1=[[Lasioideae]] Engler 1876
|2={{clade
|1=[[Zamioculcadoideae]] Bogner & Hesse 2005
|2=[[Aroideae]] Arnott 1832
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}

===Classification===
One of the earliest observations of species in the Araceae was conducted by [[Theophrastus]] in his work ''[[Enquiry into Plants]]''.<ref name=Aroids>{{cite book|last=Bown|first=Deni|title=Aroids: plants of the Arum family|year=2000|publisher=Timber Press|isbn=0881924857|page=46|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vIbwAAAAMAAJ&q=Araceae+Enquiry+into+Plants}}</ref> The Araceae were not recognized as a distinct group of plants until the 16th century. In 1789, [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu]] classified all climbing aroids as ''Pothos'' and all terrestrial aroids as either ''Arum'' or ''Dracontium'' in his book ''Familles des Plantes''.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}

The first major system of classification for the family was produced by [[Heinrich Wilhelm Schott]], who published ''Genera Aroidearum'' in 1858 and ''Prodromus Systematis Aroidearum'' in 1860. Schott's system was based on floral characteristics, and used a narrow conception of a genus. [[Adolf Engler]] produced a classification in 1876, which was steadily refined up to 1920. His system is significantly different from Schott's, being based more on vegetative characters and anatomy. The two systems were to some extent rivals, with Engler's having more adherents before the advent of [[molecular phylogenetics]] brought new approaches.<ref name=Gray90>{{Citation |last=Grayum |first=Michael H. |year=1990 |title=Evolution and Phylogeny of the Araceae |journal=Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden |volume=77 |issue=4 |pages=628–697 |doi=10.2307/2399668 |jstor=2399668 }}</ref>

A comprehensive taxonomy of Araceae was published by Mayo et al. in 1997.<ref name="Mayo 1997">{{cite book | last=Mayo | first=S. J. | last2=Bogner | first2=J. | last3=Boyce | first3=P. C.| title=The genera of Araceae | publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | publication-place=London | date=1997 | isbn=1-900347-22-9 | oclc=60140655}}</ref>

Modern studies based on gene sequences show the Araceae (including the [[Lemnoideae]], duckweeds) to be [[monophyletic]], and the first diverging group within the [[Alismatales]].<ref name=APweb_Araceae>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=P.F. |title=Araceae|work=Angiosperm Phylogeny Website |url=http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/orders/alismatalesweb.htm#Araceae }}</ref> The [[APG III system]] of 2009 recognizes the family, including the genera formerly segregated in the Lemnaceae.<ref name=APG3>{{Cite journal|last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III|year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free }}</ref> The sinking of the Lemnaceae into the Araceae was not immediately universally accepted. For example, the 2010 ''New Flora of the British Isles'' used a [[Paraphyly|paraphyletic]] Araceae and a separate Lemnaceae.<ref name=Stace3>{{Citation |last=Stace |first=C.A. |author-link = Clive Stace |year=2010 |title=New Flora of the British Isles |edition=Third |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-70772-5 }} pp. 830–834.</ref> However ''Lemna'' and its allies were incorporated in Araceae in the 2019 edition.<ref name=Stace4>{{cite book|last=Stace|first=C. A.|author-link = Stace, C. A.|year=2019|title=New Flora of the British Isles|edition=Fourth|publisher=C & M Floristics|location = Middlewood Green, Suffolk, U.K.| isbn=978-1-5272-2630-2}}</ref>{{rp|872}} A comprehensive [[genomic]] study of ''[[Spirodela polyrhiza]]'' was published in February 2014.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=W.|last2=Haberer|first2=G.|last3=Gundlach|first3=H.|last4=Gläßer|first4=C.|last5=Nussbaumer|first5=T.|last6=Luo|first6=M. C.|last7=Lomsadze|first7=A.|last8=Borodovsky|first8=M.|last9=Kerstetter|first9=R. A.|last10=Shanklin|first10=J.|last11=Byrant|first11=D. W.|last12=Mockler|first12=T. C.|last13=Appenroth|first13=K. J.|last14=Grimwood|first14=J.|last15=Jenkins|first15=J.|last16=Chow|first16=J.|last17=Choi|first17=C.|last18=Adam|first18=C.|last19=Cao|first19=X.-H.|last20=Fuchs|first20=J.|last21=Schubert|first21=I.|last22=Rokhsar|first22=D.|last23=Schmutz|first23=J.|last24=Michael|first24=T. P.|last25=Mayer|first25=K. F. X.|last26=Messing|first26=J|title=The ''Spirodela polyrhiza'' genome reveals insights into its neotenous reduction fast growth and aquatic lifestyle|journal=Nature Communications|date=2014|volume=5|page=3311|doi=10.1038/ncomms4311|pmid=24548928|pmc=3948053|bibcode=2014NatCo...5.3311W}}</ref>

===Genera===
{{main|List of Araceae genera}}
[[File:Arum maculatum 0 700.jpg|thumb|The cuckoo-pint or lords and ladies (''[[Arum maculatum]]'') is a common arum in British woodlands.]]
[[File:Arisaema triphyllum.jpg|thumb|''[[Arisaema triphyllum]]'']]

''[[Anthurium]]'' and ''[[Zantedeschia]]'' are two well-known members of this family, as are ''Colocasia esculenta'' ([[taro]]) and ''[[Xanthosoma]] roseum'' (elephant ear or ‘ape). The largest unbranched inflorescence in the world is that of the arum ''Amorphophallus titanum'' (titan arum).<ref name="Titan Arum">{{cite web|title=Titan Arum FAQs {{!}} Biological Sciences Greenhouse|url=http://bioscigreenhouse.osu.edu/titan-arum-faqs|work=[[Ohio State University]]|access-date=17 January 2014|date=2012-05-16}}</ref> The family includes many ornamental plants: ''[[Dieffenbachia]]'', ''[[Aglaonema]]'', ''[[Caladium]]'', ''[[Nephthytis]]'', and ''[[Epipremnum]]'', to name a few. The genera ''[[Cryptocoryne]]'', ''[[Anubias]]'' and ''[[Bucephalandra]] '' are many popular aquarium plants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aquarium Cryptocoryne Plants|url=http://www.fishchannel.com/freshwater-aquariums/planted-tank/crypt-aquarium-plants.aspx|work=[[Aquarium Fish International]]|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref> ''[[Philodendron]]'' is an important plant in the ecosystems of the [[rainforest]]s and is often used in home and interior decorating. ''Symplocarpus foetidus'' (skunk cabbage) is a common eastern North American species. An interesting peculiarity is that this family includes the largest unbranched inflorescence, that of the [[titan arum]],<ref name="Titan Arum"/> often erroneously called the "largest flower" and the smallest flowering plant and smallest fruit, found in the duckweed, ''[[Wolffia]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the smallest flower in the world?|url=http://loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/smallestflower.html|work=[[Library of Congress]]|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref>

==Fossil record==

The family Araceae has one of the oldest [[fossil]] record among [[angiosperms]], with fossil forms first appearing during the [[Early Cretaceous]] epoch.<ref name=Sender>Sender, L.M., Doyle, J.A., Upchurch, J.R. Jr., Villanueva-Amadoz, U. and Diez J.B. 2019. Leaf and inflorescence evidence for near-basal Araceae and an unexpected diversity of other monocots from the late Early Cretaceous of Spain. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, vol. 17, p. 1093–1126.</ref><ref name=Nauheimer>Nauheimer, L., Metzler, D. and Renner, S.S. 2012. Global history of the ancient monocot family Araceae inferred with models accounting for past continental positions and previous ranges based on fossils. New Phytologist, vol. 195, p. 938-950.</ref> Notable fossils from the Early Cretaceous include: ''Spixiarum kipea'',<ref name=Coiffard>Coiffard, C., Mohr, B.A.R. and Bernardes de Oliveira, M.E.C. 2013. The Early Cretaceous aroid, ''Spixiarum kipea'' gen. et sp. nov., and implications on early dispersal and ecology of basal monocots. Taxon, vol. 62. p. 997-1008.</ref> an aroid from the late [[Aptian]] of Brazil;<ref name=Sender /> ''Orontiophyllum ferreri'', an aroid leaf from the late [[Albian]] of Spain;<ref name=Sender /> and ''Turolospadix bogneri'', an aroid spadix from the late Albian of Spain.<ref name=Sender />

==Food plants==

Food plants in the family Araceae include ''[[Amorphophallus paeoniifolius]]'' (elephant foot yam), ''[[Colocasia esculenta]]'' (kochu, taro, dasheen), ''Xanthosoma'' (cocoyam, tannia), ''[[Typhonium trilobatum]]'' and ''[[Monstera deliciosa]]'' (Mexican breadfruit). While the aroids are little traded, and overlooked by plant breeders to the extent that the Crop Trust calls them "orphan crops", they are widely grown and are important in [[subsistence agriculture]] and in local markets. The main food product is the [[corm]], which is high in [[starch]]; leaves and flowers also find culinary use.<ref name="CropTrust">{{cite web |title=Aroids. Colocasia Xanthosoma |publisher=The Crop Trust| access-date=2019-04-06| url=https://www.croptrust.org/crop/aroids }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of foliage plant diseases (Araceae)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Bown, Deni (2000). Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family [ILLUSTRATED]. Timber Press. {{ISBN|0-88192-485-7}}
* {{Cite journal| author = Croat, Thomas B|year = 1998| title = History and Current Status of Systematic Research with Araceae| journal = Aroideana| volume = 21}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20060927012752/http://www.aroid.org/literature/croat/history/efforts_after_1950.html online]
* {{Cite journal| author = Grayum, Michael H|year = 1990| title = Evolution and Phylogeny of the Araceae| journal = Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden| volume = 77| issue = 4 |pages = 628–697| doi = 10.2307/2399668 |jstor = 2399668}}
* {{Cite journal| author = Keating R C|year = 2004|title = Vegetative anatomical data and its relationship to a revised classification of the genera of Araceae|journal = Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden|volume = 91|issue = 3|pages= 485–494|jstor=3298625}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Araceae}}
{{Wikispecies|Araceae}}
* [http://www.aroid.org/ International Aroid Society]
* [http://www.aroid.org/genera/120110uberlist.pdf The Uberlist of Araceae (pdf)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080614045440/http://www.botmuc.de/forschung/bogner.html list of publications (March 2008) for Dr. h.c. Josef Bogner]
* [http://www.botanical-dermatology-database.info/BotDermFolder/ARAC-1.html Araceae] in [http://www.botanical-dermatology-database.info/index.html BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170322171139/http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Plants of the World Online] by [https://www.kew.org Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]

{{Angiosperm families}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q48227}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Araceae| ]]
[[Category:Alismatales families]]
[[Category:Extant Maastrichtian first appearances]]

Araceae - Revision history

Brigette59K: brief rework intro per sources and corrected details

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article