Family: Araceae
Common name: Water arum, Bog arum, Wild Calla, Marsh Calla, Swamp lily, Water dragon, Squaw claw, Wild dragon
Water arum is a beautiful flowering plant ideal for water bodies like koi ponds or lily ponds in home gardens or parks. These plants prefer wetlands, water edges, or bogs thriving in marshy, waterlogged areas in the wild.
Plant characteristics
Water arum plants grow to a height of 50-70 cm with small, erect stems and broad, heart-shaped leaves. The root system spreads horizontally just beneath the surface of the soil, helping the plant anchor itself, and also creating smaller plants from the roots.
The stems are usually not seen above the surface and it looks like the leaves arise directly from the roots. Water arum leaves are glossy and dark-green with a waxy coating on top that helps the plant live in water without the leaves decaying.
Leaves have smooth edges and are deeply veined, growing in a rosette-shape from the center of the plant.
Flowers of the Water arum are very typical of the Araceae family, with an elongated spadix that contains the flowers, surrounded by a leaf-like spathe that is white or cream in color.
Flowers are 5-8 cm in diameter and the spadix is 5-8 cm long. Water arum plants bloom sporadically through the year, and the flowers last for several days. Hence they can be used as cut flowers in flower arrangements.
After pollination of the flowers by bees and small insects, the Water arum plants produce clusters of small berries on the spadix. These berries are eaten by birds and animals.
Gardening Tips
Water arum plants grow well in the wild, in water-filled, marshy areas. But they can also be grown in home gardens in pots that are placed in water. Or planted directly in the soil in small water bodies. They prefer partial shade, but thrive well when they have adequate sunlight.
Since Water arums are planted in standing water, they do not need watering. If there are fishes growing in the water, their excreta would provide adequate nutrition for the plants.
Water arum plants are not heavy feeders, and hence there is no need to fertilize frequently.
Uses of Water arum
They make excellent water plants for ponds with standing water, and are mostly grown as ornamentals. All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic to humans and pets.
Consuming the leaves or stem can leads to irritation and inflammation in the mouth, tongue, throat, and digestive system.
When planted in ponds, these plants provide protection for small fishes and animals that take shelter near the roots, protecting them from predators.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and rhizomes.
Seeds that fall in the soil can germinate to produce new plants.
Rhizomes produce small plants all around the parent plant, which is a very effectively method of vegetative propagation. These small plants can be carefully separated from the parent plants and replanted.
Photographed at: Bangalore International Center
