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Arisarum proboscideum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Arisarum proboscideum
Botanical illustration of Arisarum proboscideum
Leaves and inflorescences of Arisarum proboscideum with a scale bar
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Genus: Arisarum
Species:
A. proboscideum
Binomial name
Arisarum proboscideum
Synonyms[2]
  • Arum proboscideum L.
  • Homaida proboscidea (L.) Raf.

Arisarum proboscideum, also known as the mouse plant or mouse-tail plant,[3] is a flowering plant in the family Araceae.[1]

Description

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Arisarum proboscideum is a herbaceous perennial plant.[3] This species has a short and slender rhizome.[2] Leaves are green and range from 6 – 15 cm long. The leaves are either sagittate, obtuse or mucronate in leaf structure.[2] A. proboscideum possesses a spathe up to 10 cm long and an inflorescent spadix. Plants are monoecious, with usually one to three female flowers and up to sixteen male.[4] Larger inflorescences also contain disproportionally more male flowers than female flowers.[5] Pollination is performed by insects such as fungus gnats, which are lured into the spathe through a small opening. Once the insect is inside they are trapped and must struggle to escape. The struggling insect transfers pollen from male to female flowers.[6]

Distribution

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This species is native Europe, where it can be found in western Spain and both central and southern Italy.[2]

Arisarum proboscideum has been introduced outside of its natural range into the United Kingdom, New Zealand and North America.[7]

Habitat

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Arisarum proboscideum grows in shaded forest habitats. In Italy it inhabits humid, Mediterranean woodlands where it grows in nutrient rich soils. In Spain this species also inhabits warmer and drier temperate forests.[1]

It is naturally found at elevations up to 1200 metres above sea level.[1]

Ecology

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Pollination

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Arisarum proboscideum is pollinated by fungus gnats[6][8]

The inflorescence mimics mushrooms.[8] They are pollinated by fungus gnats.[6][8]

Parasite ecology

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Arisarum proboscideum is a host plant of the phytopathogenic fungus Melanustilospora arisari.[9] It causes black, round spotting of up to 1 cm in size.[10]

Cytology

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Chromosome count

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The diploid chromosome count is 2n=28.[11]

Chloroplasts

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The chloroplasts of Arisarum proboscideum have unusual protrusions.[12]

Horticulture

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It can be cultivated outdoors in shaded areas, and it is not suitable for warm greenhouses exposed to the summer sun, as the rhizomes are intolerant of desiccation. They require sufficient moisture. Planting and re-planting is advised to take place in springtime.[6][13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Orsenigo, S.; Peruzzi, L. (2018). "Arisarum proboscideum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018. IUCN: e.T13133495A18611190. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T13133495A18611190.en.
  2. ^ a b c d "Arisarum proboscideum". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Arisarum proboscideum". www.rhs.org.uk. 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  4. ^ Becerra Parra, M (2008). Botanical Guide to the Serranía de Ronda . Round: The Serrania. ISBN 978-84-96607-28-6
  5. ^ Harris, J. A. (1915). "On the distribution and correlation of the sexes (staminate and pistillate flowers) in the inflorescence of the aroids Arisarum vulgare and Arisarum proboscideum." Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 42(12), 663-673.
  6. ^ a b c d "Arisarum proboscideum". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  7. ^ "Arisarum proboscideum". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Meeuse, B. J. D. (2019). "Arisarum: En. Mousetail. In CRC Handbook of Flowering (pp. 47-51)." CRC Press.
  9. ^ W.N. Ellis. (2023). Arisarum proboscideum mousetailplant. Plant Parasites of Europe Leafminers, Galls and Fungi. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://bladmineerders.nl/host-plants/plantae/spermatopsida/angiosperma/monocots/alismatales/araceae/aroideae/arisarum/arisarum-proboscideum/
  10. ^ W.N. Ellis. (2023). Melanustilospora arisari (Peglion) Denchev, 2003. Plant Parasites of Europe Leafminers, Galls and Fungi. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/fungi/dikarya/basidiomycota/ustilaginomycotina/ustilaginomycetes/urocystidales/urocystidaceae/melanustilospora/melanustilospora-arisari/
  11. ^ Fabbri, F. (1966). "Dati cariologici sull´Arisarum proboscideum (L.) Savi." Caryologia, 19(2), 157-161.
  12. ^ Bonzi, L. M., & Fabbri, F. (1975). "Chloroplast protrusions in Arisarum proboscideum (L.) Savi." Caryologia, 28(3), 407-426.
  13. ^ Boyce, P. (1990). "Friar's cowls and mouse plants: the genus Arisarum." The Kew Magazine, 7(1), 14-21.