Re: Arum maculatum

From: "James W. Waddick" <jim-jim at swbell.net> on 1997.12.03 at 14:03:58(1692) >Peter Boyce or other Arumettes: > > We are growing a number of arums, and are thoroughly confused with >Arum maculatum. None of the plants that we are growing as A. maculatum are >solid green or spotted black. They are all patterned with silver. Could I >assume that all of these are actually A. italicum or hybrids between the >two. +More Dear Tony; My 2 cents. It does seem like a lot of Arum maculatum in the US is either mis-identified or not spotted. I had a lot of questions about this, too. The true Arum maculatum is quite distinct (spotted or not) from A italicum (marked or not). My spotted plants self sow with both spotted and unspotted seedlings apppearing. The plate of A. maculatum in Peter Boyce's wonderful book "The Genus Arum" is a bit wierd in that it makes the black spots almost look like 'sores'. In my plants there is a far simpler black (Dark brown) mark more like that done with a permanent marker. The spots are scattered around the leaf at random. I have some seedlings named as hybrids that are washed with a silvery pattern, but unlike that of A. italicum pictum. Still too young to compare, but it seems these 2 must hybridize pretty readily and the hybrids have some vigor! A maculatum in flower is distinct! Hope it was of some help. jim W. James W. Waddick Voice: 816 746 1949 8871 NW Brostrom Rd E-MAIL: jim-jim@swbell.net Kansas City MO 64152 Fax: 816 746 1939 Zone 5/6 - Winter low -10 degrees F Summer high +100 degrees F

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