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The arums comprise the Family Araceae (including the numerous aroids subfamily): monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like hood. This family of 107 genera and over 3700 species is most diverse in the New World tropics, although also distributed in the Old World tropics and north temperate regions.

The Cuckoo-pint or Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum) is a common arum in British woodlands

In monoecious aroids (posessing 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 flowers the stigma is no longer receptive when the pollen is released, thus preventing self-fertilization. There are also some dioecious species.

Anthurium and Zantedeschia are two well-known members of this family, as are Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Xanthosoma roseum (Elephant ear or 'ape). Among the largest inflorescence in the world is that of the arum Amorphophallus titanum (Titan arum). This family includes a great many ornamental plants: Dieffenbachia, Aglaonema, Caladium, Nephthys, and Epipremnum, to name a few. In the genus Cryptocoryne are many popular aquarium plants. Both Taro and Monstera deliciosa provide food value (the fruit of Monstera deliciosa called "Mexican breadfruit"). Philodendron is an important plant in the ecosystems of the rainforests and is often used in home and interior decorating. Symplocarpus foetidus or skunk cabbage is a common North American species.

The largest collection of living material of Araceae is maintained at Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Genera

• Subfamily Aroideae:
  • Aglaodorum Schott
  • Aglaonema Schott
  • Alocasia (Schott) G. Don, nom. cons.
  • Ambrosina Bassi
  • Amorphophallus Blume ex Decne., nom. cons.
  • Anchomanes Schott
  • Anubias Schott
  • Aridarum Ridl.
  • Ariopsis Nimmo
  • Arisaema Mart.
  • Arisarum Mill.
  • Arophyton Jum.
  • Arum L.
  • Asterostigma Fisch. & C. A. Mey.
  • Biarum Schott, nom. cons.
  • Bognera Mayo & Nicolson
  • Bucephalandra Schott
  • Caladium Vent.
  • Callopsis Engl.
  • Carlephyton Jum.
  • Cercestis Schott
  • Chlorospatha Engl.
  • Colletogyne Buchet
  • Colocasia Schott, nom. cons. - Taros
  • Cryptocoryne Fisch. ex Wydler - Water trumpets
  • Culcasia P. Beauv., nom. cons.
  • Dieffenbachia Schott
  • Dracunculus Mill.
  • Eminium (Blume) Schott
  • Filarum Nicolson
  • Furtadoa M. Hotta
  • Gearum N. E. Br.
  • Gonatopus Hook. f. ex Engl.
  • Gorgonidium Schott
  • Hapaline Schott, nom. cons.
  • Helicodiceros Schott, nom. cons.
  • Heteroaridarum M. Hotta
  • Homalomena Schott
  • Hottarum Bogner & Nicolson
  • Jasarum G. S. Bunting
  • Lagenandra Dalzell
  • Lazarum A. Hay
  • Mangonia Schott
  • Montrichardia Crueg., nom. cons.
  • Nephthytis Schott
  • Peltandra Raf., nom. cons.
  • Philodendron Schott, nom. cons.
  • Phymatarum M. Hotta
  • Pinellia Ten., nom. cons.
  • Piptospatha N. E. Br.
  • Pistia L.
  • Protarum Engl.
  • Pseudodracontium N. E. Br.
  • Pseudohydrosme Engl.
  • Remusatia Schott
  • Sauromatum Schott
  • Scaphispatha Brongn. ex Schott
  • Schismatoglottis Zoll. & Moritzi
  • Spathantheum Schott
  • Spathicarpa Hook.
  • Steudnera K. Koch
  • Stylochaeton Lepr.
  • Synandrospadix Engl.
  • Syngonium Schott
  • Taccarum Brongn. ex Schott
  • Theriophonum Blume
  • Typhonium Schott
  • Typhonodorum Schott
  • Ulearum Engl.
  • Xanthosoma Schott
  • Zamioculcas Schott
  • Zantedeschia Spreng., nom. cons.
  • Zomicarpa Schott
  • Zomicarpella N. E. Br.

• Subfamily Calloideae:
  • Calla L.

• Subfamily Gymnostachydoideae:
  • Gymnostachys R. Br.

• Subfamily Lasioideae:
  • Anaphyllopsis A. Hay
  • Anaphyllum Schott
  • Cyrtosperma Griff.
  • Dracontioides Engl.
  • Dracontium L.
  • Lasia Lour.
  • Lasimorpha Schott
  • Podolasia N. E. Br.
  • Pycnospatha Thorel ex Gagnep.
  • Urospatha Schott

• Subfamily Monsteroideae:
  • Alloschemone Schott
  • Amydrium Schott
  • Anadendrum Schott
  • Epipremnum Schott
  • Heteropsis Kunth
  • Holochlamys Engl.
  • Monstera Adans., nom. cons. - Including the Mexican Breadfruit: Monstera deliciosa
  • Rhaphidophora Hassk.
  • Rhodospatha Poepp.
  • Scindapsus Schott
  • Spathiphyllum Schott
  • Stenospermation Schott

• Subfamily Orontioideae:
  • Lysichiton Schott
  • Orontium L.
  • Symplocarpus Salisb. ex W. P. C. Barton, nom. cons.

• Subfamily Pothoideae:
  • Anthurium Schott
  • Pedicellarum M. Hotta
  • Pothoidium Schott
  • Pothos L.