The Arum Family

Araceae is characterized by the flower morphology. They are arranged in a spadix, sometimes enclosed by the spathe (which is not a petal, but a leafy bract!). This is most obvious in our Calla palustris specimen. Many species in this family are thermogenic (heat-producing), and a notable example from this region is the skunk cabbage! The common house plant Monstera is also in this family. If you're confused by the duckweeds included in this family, you're not alone! They were a point of contention for a long time, and were initially in their own family before genetic testing was done.