Araceae

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Common Names: Arum lily

Plant Form: Perennial clump-forming herb. Size: Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem: Thick green fleshy and sappy stalks 80 cm long, winged at base. Leaves: Large, arrowhead shaped, glossy, dark green, up to 60 cm long. Flowers: Typical arum, central yellow spike (spadix) surrounded by large white leaf-like petal (spathe) up to 25 cm long. Fruit and Seeds: Irregular globular berries, 5-10 mm wide, in clusters at base of central spike. Containing several to many small yellowish-brown seeds. Habitat: Marshy areas, wasteland, rubbish dumps, wetlands, creeklines. Distinguishing Features: Flowers can be distinguished from Italian arum (Arum italicum) by their larger size. Without flowers it is hard to distinguish from several other cultivated species. Impacts: Replaces pasture species, dominates and shades out natives, toxic to humans and livestock.