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Calla palustris

(Wild Calla-Lily)

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Bog Arum, Water Arum, Water Calla, Water-Dragon, Wild Calla, Wild Calla-Lily

Common Names in Romanian:

Coada Smeului

Common Names in Swedish:

Missne

Description

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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]

Physical Description

Species Calla palustris

Roots adventitious, arising from nodes. Rhizomes creeping at or near surface , elongate , 1--3 cm diam. Leaves: petiole 6--30(--40) cm; blade 4--14 cm wide; lateral veins curved-ascending, parallel. Inflorescences: spathe ovate to elliptic , 3--6(--8) cm, apex long-apiculate, 4--10 mm; spadix on thick short stipe, cylindric , shorter than spathe, apex rounded . Flowers covering spadix; stamens (6--) 9--12, of 2 types, outer with broad filaments and inner with narrow filaments; ovaries 1-locular; ovules 6--9, anatropous . Infructescences 2--5 ´ 1.5--3.5 cm. Fruits pear-shaped, 6--12 ´ 5--10 mm. Seeds brown with dark spots at chalazal end, cylindric, 3--5 mm. 2n = 36. [source]

Plants with two or three spathes per inflorescence occur; this anomaly is recognized as C. palustris forma polyspathacea Victorin and Rousseau. Calla palustris has been reported from Iowa (T. G. Lammers and A. G. van der Valk 1979), but the only specimen is an unreliable record . The species was also reported from Mendocino County., California (A. Eastwood 1900), but the specimen on which this record is based was destroyed (H. L. Mason 1957). Perhaps this collection was an incorrect identification of Zantedeschia aethiopica, the cultivated calla-lily, which has escaped and naturalized in areas along the California coast (see table 203.1). [source]

Preliminary field studies indicate that species of syrphid flies (Sphegina spp. , Diptera: Syrphidae: Milesiinae) are especially common on inflorescences, with occasional visits from the widespread flower fly, Toxomerus geminatus (Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphinae) (S. A. Thompson 1995). [source]

Habit: Forb/herb

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

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 6-12" tall.

Habitat

Bogs , marshes, wooded swamps , and marshy shores of rivers , ponds , and lakes ; 0--900 m [3].

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 1,526 meters (0 to 5,007 feet).[4]

Biology

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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)

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Calla brevis (Raf.) á. Löve and D. Löve
  2. Calla cordifolia Stokes
  3. Calla generalis E. H. L. Krause
  4. Calla ovatifolia Gilib.
  5. Calla palustris forma aroiformis Asch. and Graebn.
  6. Calla palustris forma gracilis Asch. and Graebn.
  7. Calla palustris forma polyspathacea Vict. and 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

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

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

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Calla

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 8 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

C. aethiopica · C. oculata · C. ovatofolia · C. palustris (Wild Calla-Lily) · C. palustris f. polyspathacea · C. pentlandi · C. picta · C. polyphylla

More Info

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Further Reading

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  • Bown, D. 1988. Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family. Portland.
  • Grayum, M. H. 1990. Evolution and phylogeny of the Araceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 77: 628--697.
  • Lampe, K. F. and M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants. Chicago.
  • Mayo, S. J., J. Bogner, and P. C. Boyce. 1997. The Genera of Araceae. 1 vol. + laser disc. [London.]
  • Mulligan, G. A. and D. B. Munro. 1990. Poisonous Plants of Canada. Ottawa, Canada.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Wilson, K. A. 1960. The genera of the Arales in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 41: 47--72.
  • Dudley, M. G. 1937. Morphological and cytological studies of Calla palustris. Bot. Gaz. 98: 556--571.
  • 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.
  • Scribailo, R. W. and P. B. Tomlinson. 1992. Shoot and floral development in Calla palustris. Int. J. Pl. Sci. 153: 1--13.
  • Notes

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    Contributors

    Data Sources

    Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 12, 2007:

    Identifiers

    Footnotes

    1. Sue A. Thompson "Araceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
    2. "Calla". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
    3. "Calla palustris". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
    4. Mean = 167.320 meters (548.950 feet), Standard Deviation = 175.150 based on 3,237 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
    Last Revised: 7/1/2009