ABSTRACT:

It is Meusel's (1951) merit to have pointed out the significance of growth-habit for interpreting the evolution of a particular group of plants. In his paper he chose Araceae and Lemnaceae as striking examples to prove his point. While it is rather difficult to translate the German terminology he used for those plants which produce persistent parts above the ground, the term "geophytes" fits well for all those which persist with their subterranean parts alone. Among Araceae, rhizomatous and tuberous geophytes are known. Subfamily Aroideae is composed almost entirely of members of the latter group with the exception of plants growing in water or at least swampy ground, like Lagenandra. While, according to Meusel, intermediates between rhizomatous and tuberous geophytes are found in Colocasioideae, geophytes are rare or absent in the rest of the family.