Calla palustris

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. Calla brevis (Raf.) Á.Löve & D.Löve
2. Calla cordifolia Stokes
3. Calla generalis E.H.L.Krause
4. Calla ovatifolia Gilib.
5. Calla palustris forma aroiformis Asch. & Graebn.
6. Calla palustris forma gracilis Asch. & Graebn.
7. Calla palustris forma polyspathacea Vict. & J.Rousseau
8. Callaion bispatha (Raf.) Raf.
9. Callaion brevis (Raf.) Raf.
10. Callaion heterophylla (Raf.) Raf.
11. Callaion palustris (L.) Raf.
12. Dracunculus paludosus Montandon
13. Provenzalia bispatha Raf.
14. Provenzalia brevis Raf.
15. Provenzalia heterophyla Raf.
16. Provenzalia palustris (L.) Raf.

Notes:

Publishing author: J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans Publication: in Journ. Bot. 1899, 251.

Publishing author: Raf. Publication: New Fl. (Rafinesque) ii. 90 (1836)

Publishing author: E.H.L.Krause Publication: in Sturm, Fl. Deutschland. ed. 2, i. 180 (1906)

Publishing author: Stokes Publication: Bot. Mat. Med. iv. 326 1812

Publishing author: �.Löve & D.Löve. Publication: Bot. Not. 128(4): 505 (1975 publ. 1976)

Basionym author: (Raf.)

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Govaerts R., 11-Nov-2003

Place of publication: Sp. pl. 2:968. 1753

Name verified on 21-Feb-2006 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 21-Feb-2006

Physical Description

Family Araceae:

Herbs, perennial, wetland or terrestrial, occasionally emergent or floating, [often epiphytic or climbing], usually with milky or watery latex, rarely colored. Rhizomes, corms, or stolons present; rhizomes vertical or horizontal, creeping at or near surface, sometimes branched; corms underground, starchy; stolons at or near surface. Stems absent [sometimes aboveground or aerial]. Cataphylls usually present. Leaves rarely solitary, alternate or clustered; petiole rarely absent, with sheathing base; blade simple or compound [occasionally perforate], elliptic to obovate or spatulate, occasionally sagittate-cordate, larger than 1.5 cm; venation parallel or pinnate- or palmate-netted. Inflorescences spadices, each with 3--900 usually tightly grouped, sessile flowers, subtended by spathe; spathe rarely absent, persistent (sometimes only proximally) or deciduous, variously colored; spadix cylindric or ovoid, various parts occasionally naked or with sterile flowers. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, staminate and pistillate usually on same plants or functionally on different plants, staminate flowers distal to pistillate when unisexual; perianth absent or present; stamens 2--12, distinct or connate in synandria; ovaryies 1, 1--3(--many) -locular, sessile or embedded in spadix; styles 1; stigmas hemispheric, capitate, or discoid [sometimes strongly lobed]. Fruits berries, distinct or connate at maturity. Seeds 1--40(--many) per berry.

Genera 105, species more than 3300 (8 genera, 10 species in the flora; species in 10 additional genera may persist locally within flora area, see talbe 203.1) : nearly worldwide, primarily tropical regions.

Araceae are best characterized by the inflorescence, a fleshy cylindric or ovoid, unbranched spadix subtended or surrounded by a spathe. True spathes are absent in the Nearctic genus Orontium and in the Australian genus Gymnostachys. Other plant families with a compressed spadix-like inflorescence, such as Piperaceae and Cyclanthaceae, either do not have a structure equivalent to a spathe (Piperaceae) or have early-deciduous bracts (Cyclanthaceae) . Plants are usually glabrous, rarely pubescent or spiny (pubescent in Pistia) . Many Araceae exhibit typical monocotyledonous parallel leaf venation, but some genera have net leaf venation more typical of dicotyledons.

Infrafamilial classification of the Araceae is under active study. The only classification of the family to date to utilize modern phylogenetic techniques (S. J. Mayo et al. 1997) recognizes seven subfamilies, of which three are represented in native temperate North American aroid flora: Orontioideae (Orontium, Symplocarpus, Lysichiton) ; Calloideae (Calla) ; and Aroideae (Peltandra, Arisaema, and Pistia) . Acorus, a genus historically included in Araceae, is treated as a separate family in theat flora based on extensive morphologic and chemical evidence that supports its removal from Arales (M. H. Grayum 1987) .

The number of genera of Araceae occurring in temperate North America is low in comparison with other continents, and primitive taxa are disproportionately represented. Orontioideae and Calloideae, which include four of the seven native genera found in the flora area, are the basal clades within Araceae. Plants in these subfamilies possess the primitive states for many characteristics in Araceae and share few derived characteristics with other aroid genera (M. H. Grayum 1990) . The more advanced genera native to the flora area include one genus endemic to eastern North America (Peltandra), a pantropical genus with an uncertain native distribution (Pistia), and a genus clearly Eurasian in origin (Arisaema) .

Araceae contain crystals of calcium oxalate, which are often cited as causing the intense irritation experienced when handling or consuming the raw plant tissue of many genera in the family. This supposition is contradicted by the fact that although irritation generally is not produced by properly cooked plants, the crystals remain after heating. Other compounds must therefore be involved with causing this reaction. Studies of Dieffenbachia demonstrated that a proteolytic enzyme, as well as other compounds, are responsible for the severe irritation caused by this plant and that raphides of calcium oxalate do not play a major role (J. Arditti and E. Rodriguez 1982) . Whether irritation is caused by enzymes or crystals, that aspect of Araceae has resulted in aroid genera being included in many lists of poisonous plants (e.g., K. F. Lampe and M. A. McCann 1985; G. A. Mulligan and D. B. Munro 1990; K. D. Perkins and W. W. Payne 1978) .

Despite the toxic effects of Araceae, species of several genera are cultivated as food plants, mainly as subsistence crops in tropical areas. The major edible Araceae are Colocasia esculenta and several species of Xanthosoma, grown primarily for their corms and sometimes for their leaves. Most North American species of Araceae were historically used by Native Americans, as both food and medicine (T. Plowman 1969) . The family, is currently more valued for its many ornamental species, and is the most important family in North America for indoor foliage plants (T. B. Croat 1994) . Araceae commonly grown as ornamentals in American homes include species of Aglaonema (Chinese-evergreen), Anthurium, Caladium, Dieffenbachia (dumbcane), Epipremnum (golden pothos), Philodendron, Spathiphyllum, Syngonium, and Zantedeschia (calla-lily) .

Plants of some cultivated species of Araceae escape and may persist or naturalize, especially in warmer climates. One of these species, Colocasia esculenta, is widespread enough to warrant full inclusion in the flora, but other introduced species of Araceae are very local in occurrence. Uncommon species represented by herbarium specimens or literature reports as escaped or persisting from cultivation are listed (table 203.1) with distinguishing characteristics and areas of occurrence.^[1]

Genus Calla:

Herbs, wetland. Rhizomes horizontal. Leaves appearing before flowers, several, emergent, arising along rhizome, also clustered terminally; petiole 1.5--2 or more times as long as blade; blade bright green, simple, not peltate, ovate to nearly round, base cordate, apex short-acuminate to apiculate; lateral veins parallel. Inflorescences: peduncle erect, as long as or longer than petiole, apex not swollen; spathe white, often green or partially green abaxially, not enclosing spadix; spadix cylindric. Flowers all bisexual or distal ones staminate; perianth absent. Fruits not embedded in spadix, red. Seeds 4--9(--11), embedded in mucilage. x = 18.

Species 1: circumboreal.

Numerous cytogenetic studies have been conducted on Calla with both diploid (2n = 36) and apparently tetraploid (2n = 72) populations reported (see G. Petersen 1989). All counts from North American populations counted have a somatic number of 36 chromosomes.^[2]

Habit: Forb/herb

Flowers: Bloom Period: April, May. • Flower Color: near white, white

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Europe to Japan, Canada, N. & E. U.S.A.

Native: Alberta, British Columbia, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Jilin, Liaoning, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, North Dakota, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Rhode Island, Saskatchewan, Vermont, Wisconsin.

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Culture: Space 15-18" apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 5.1 • Maximum pH: 6.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. (map)

Similar Species

Members of the genus Calla:

There are approximately 4 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus: C. ovatofolia · C. palustris (Water Arum) · C. palustris f. polyspathacea · C. pentlandi

Bibliography

• Bown, D. 1988. Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family. Portland.
• Dudley, M. G. 1937. Morphological and cytological studies of Calla palustris. Bot. Gaz. 98: 556--571.
• Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage. (Zander ed13)
• FNA Editorial Committee. 1993–. Flora of North America. (F NAmer)
• Farr, E. R. et al., eds. 1979. Index nomina genericorum.; suppl. 1986 (ING)
• Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1963. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. (Glea Cron)
• Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 2002. World checklist and bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae). (L Araceae)
• Grayum, M. H. 1990. Evolution and phylogeny of the Araceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 77: 628--697.
• Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening. (Dict Gard)
• Kitagawa, M. 1979. Neo-lineamenta florae Manshuricae. (F Manshur)
• Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. (F USSR)
• Lampe, K. F. and M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants. Chicago.
• Lehmann, N. L. and R. Sattler. 1992. Irregular floral development in Calla palustris (Araceae) and the concept of homeosis. Amer. J. Bot. 79: 1145--1157.
• Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. (Hortus 3)
• Mayo, S. J., J. Bogner, and P. C. Boyce. 1997. The Genera of Araceae. 1 vol. + laser disc. [London.]
• McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. (F GPlains)
• Mulligan, G. A. and D. B. Munro. 1990. Poisonous Plants of Canada. Ottawa, Canada.
• Munro, D. B. Canadian poisonous plants information system - on-line resource. (Can Poison Pl)
• Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.). (F JapanOhwi)
• Perkins, K. D. and W. W. Payne. 1978. Guide to the Poisonous and Irritant Plants of Florida. Gainesville, Florida.
• Plowman, T. 1969. Folk uses of New World aroids. Econ. Bot. 23: 97--122.
• Scoggan, H. J. 1978–1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. (F Canada)
• Scribailo, R. W. and P. B. Tomlinson. 1992. Shoot and floral development in Calla palustris. Int. J. Pl. Sci. 153: 1--13.
• Seymour, F. 1969. The flora of New England. (F NEng)
• Thompson, S. A. 1995. Systematics and Biology of the Araceae and Acoraceae of Temperate North America. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Illinois. Add Urbana-Champaign.
• Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. (F Eur)
• Voss, E. 1972–. Michigan flora. (F Mich)
• Wilson, K. A. 1960. The genera of the Arales in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 41: 47--72.

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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 19, 2007.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2007. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed March 28, 2007.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 12, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 27 providers.
• The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Jan 19, 2007.
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 26, 2008)
• World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesFeb 2, 2006.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 12, 2007:

• Biologiezentrum der Oberoesterreichischen Landesmuseen, Biologiezentrum Linz
• Jyväskylä University Museum - The Section of Natural Sciences, Vascular plant collection of Jyvaskyla University Museum
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
• Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Vascular Plant Herbarium, Oslo
• Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Vascular Plants, Field notes, Oslo
• The Danish Biodiversity Information Facility, Botany registration database by Danish botanists
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Botany
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Herbarium of Oskarshamn
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Plants
• UK National Biodiversity Network, Botanical Society of the British Isles - Vascular Plants Database
• UK National Biodiversity Network, Environment and Heritage Service - EHS Species Datasets
• University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Museum of the North Herbarium

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 42546
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 14254295
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:86508-1
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PMARA07010
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: CAPA
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 26966

Footnotes:

1. Sue A. Thompson "Araceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
2. "Calla". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.