ARACEAE - Philodendron Family
Herbs, climbing shrubs, variable with raphides (calcium oxalate crystals),
leaves variable
Flowers bi- or unisexual, often foul-smelling,pollinators are often carrion
flies, inflorescence a spadix
subtended by a spathe
110 genera, 1800 species, mostly tropical and subtropical
Common genera, last three are common houseplants:
Arisaema - Jack in the pulpit
Philodendron
Pothos
Dieffenbachia - Dumb-cane
Economic importance - ornamentals and food Colocasia (taro) is used
to make poi which is prepared by boiling and drying the corm
Diagnostic characteristics: herbaceous, spadix enveloped by a spathe, flowers
small, no calyx or corolla