Arum creticum - Cretan Arum
Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Alismatales - Family: Araceae
Arum creticum, Cretan Arum
Description
One of the largest and most beautiful of the European arums, Arum creticum is a perennial clump-forming evergreen plant and is sometimes grown in gardens. It has a large flower with a yellow-greenish spathe that folds backwards exposing the yellow spadix. This plant is a member of the Arum family, Araceae.
Habitat
Arum creticum grows in the hills and mountains of Crete and Karpathos in gullies and other rocky habitats.
Distribution
Cretan Arum is native to Crete and to some Aegean islands as well as the mainland of southwest Turkey.
Flowering times
Cretan Arum usually produces flowers between March and May.
Similar species
The only larger arum that occurs in the Mediterranean is Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Arum. It is a deep maroon colour and the flowers have a truly dreadful smell. Despite this, it is quite common to see it cultivated in gardens in the Mediterranean.
The specimens shown on this page were photographed in Crete.
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