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Aroids (Araceae): A Family of Tropical Marvels

Aroids comprise 143 genera and about 3,750 species of herbaceous monocots. They display an incredible diversity of growth habits, ranging from free-floating aquatics to epiphytic climbers, all united by their signature spadix and spathe inflorescence. Leaves vary from simple and entire to intricately divided. New botanical insights continuously shape their classification, which is carefully monitored by the International Aroid Society. These plants captivate beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike with their unique forms and rewarding cultivation. 

See the genera list below

AROIDS GENERA

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Adelonema Adelonema is a neotropical aroid genus from Central and South America, prized for its variegated foliage and unique anise-scented stems.

Aglaodorum Discover Aglaodorum, a monotypic aquatic aroid with arrow‑shaped leaves, green fruits, and self‑germinating seeds native to tropical tidal mudflats.

Aglaonema Discover Aglaonema, a genus of tropical evergreens prized for vibrant, variegated foliage and easy-care indoor growth.

Aia Discover Aia, a monotypic pleionanthic, rhizomatous aroid endemic to Sarawak, Borneo, defined by unique caducous spathe limb abscission.

Alloschemone Alloschemone is a rare Amazonian genus of evergreen root-climbing Araceae with two species, distinguished by unique floral anatomy, unilocular ovaries.

Alocasia Alocasia genus comprises 80–100 tropical perennial plants with striking heart-shaped leaves, popular as ornamentals for their bold foliage.

Ambrosina Ambrosina is a monotypic Mediterranean aroid genus famed for its tiny stature and unique two‑chambered egg‑shaped inflorescence.

Amorphophallus Explore Amorphophallus, a genus of over 200 tuberous tropical Aroids known for its giant corpse-flower blooms and diverse edible tubers.

Amydrium Amydrium is a genus of epiphytic vines in the Araceae family native to Southeast Asia and New Guinea, known for heart-shaped seeds and fenestrated leaves.

Anadendrum Anadendrum is a genus of climbing aroids native to tropical Asia, known for adhesive-rooted stems and textured foliage.

Anaphyllum Discover Anaphyllum, a small Araceae genus of two marsh-dwelling species endemic to southern India, known for pinnate leaves and twisted spathes.

Anaphyllopsis Explore Anaphyllopsis, a small genus of South American aroids with distinctive pinnate leaves, thriving in northern Amazonian rainforests.

Anchomanes Discover Anchomanes, a genus of African aroids with large tuberous roots, spiny stalks, and striking inflorescences that emerge before the leaves.

Anthurium Explore Anthurium, the largest Araceae genus with over 1,000 species from Mexico to Argentina, prized for its bold spathes and varied foliage.

Anubias Explore Anubias, a genus of hardy aquatic and semi-aquatic Aroids from tropical Africa, prized for aquarium use and durable, low-light rhizomes.

Apoballis Discover Apoballis, a Southeast Asian Araceae genus known for its unique flower zones, semipersistent spathes, and aromatic blooms.

Aridarum Explore Aridarum, a genus of Borneo stream aroids with narrow, flexible leaves and distinctive spathes adapted to fast-flowing water.

Ariopsis Discover Ariopsis, a genus of two tuberous aroids with heart-shaped leaves native to tropical understories from India to Southeast Asia.

Arisaema Discover Arisaema, a genus of about 212 hooded Araceae species known as cobra lilies or Jack-in-the-pulpits, spanning Asia, Africa, and North America.

Arisarum Discover Arisarum, a small genus of Mediterranean aroids known for its hooded spathe and spadix inflorescences, prized by gardeners and botanists.

Arophyton Discover Arophyton, a small genus of seven tuberous aroids endemic to northeast Madagascar, known for seasonal dormancy and resilient drought adaptations.

Arum Explore Arum, a genus of 27 tuberous perennials in the arum family, known for arrow-shaped leaves and striking spathe-and-spadix flowers.

Asterostigma Discover Asterostigma, a genus of tuberous aroids native to South America, known for its pinnate leaves and star-shaped stigmas.

Ayuantha Discover Ayuantha, a small genus of Bornean aroids with pleionanthic shoots and distinctive senescing spathe limbs.

Bakoa Explore Bakoa, a Borneo-endemic aroid genus of three rheophytic species thriving on stream rocks, notable for fused spadix-spathe structure.

Bakoaella Discover Bakoaella, a small Araceae genus native to Borneo, featuring two species with pendent rhizomes and unique spathe and spadix morphology.

Bau Bau is a genus of 26 aroid species native to Thailand and Malesia, known for simple, pinnate-veined leaves and solitary spadix inflorescences.

Biarum Explore Biarum, a genus of small Araceae native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, featuring limestone-adapted corms and odorous blooms.

Bidayuha Discover Bidayuha, a monotypic Araceae genus from Borneo, first described in 2018 and known for its distinctive inflorescence.

Bognera Discover Bognera, a rare, monotypic aroid genus from Brazil's Amazon rainforest, thriving uniquely in swampy habitats with intriguing foliage.

Borneoa Borneoa is a newly described genus of 22 aroid species from Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia, noted for their rhizomatous growth and clustered inflorescences.

Boycea Boycea, a monotypic Araceae genus from Borneo, features the perennial geophyte Boycea bintuluensis, reclassified in 2022.

Bucephalandra Bucephalandra, a genus of about 30 rheophytic aroids from Borneo, features colorful leaves and unique streamside growth, prized in aquascaping.

Burttianthus Discover Burttianthus, a small genus of seven Araceae species endemic to Borneo, thriving along rivers and forest floors with unique aroid blooms.

Caladium Explore Caladium, a genus of tropical Araceae prized for its vibrant, heart-shaped foliage and native to Central and South America, perfect for ornamental use.

Calla Explore Calla, the monotypic aroid genus featuring the elegant white spathe and arrow-shaped leaves of Calla palustris in cool Northern Hemisphere wetlands.

Callopsis Discover Callopsis, a monotypic Araceae genus from East Tropical Africa, with heart-shaped leaves and a delicate white spathe.

Carlephyton Carlephyton is a small genus of four tuberous aroids endemic to Madagascar, prized for their cordate leaves, classic spathes, and bright red berries.

Cercestis Cercestis is a genus of about 10 climbing African aroids, noted for their fenestrated leaves and long flagella supporting their vine growth.

Chlorospatha Discover Chlorospatha, a genus of tropical aroids from Central and South American bogs, prized for bullate foliage and challenging cultivation.

Colletogyne Discover Colletogyne, a monotypic aroid genus from northern Madagascar known for its spotted white spathes and heart-shaped leaves.

Colobogynium Colobogynium is a monotypic Araceae genus native to Borneo and the Riau Islands, known for its striking variegated foliage and rhizomatous habit.

Colocasia Discover Colocasia, tropical Araceae with iconic elephant-ear leaves and edible corms, prized as ornamentals and staple food in Asia and beyond.

Croatiella Monotypic Araceae genus Croatiella features a single tuberous species endemic to Ecuador's cloud forests, known for its simple leaves and greenish spathes.

Cryptocoryne Explore Cryptocoryne, the water trumpet aroids: 60+ aquatic species with diverse leaf forms and tubular spathes that captivate both aquarists and botanists.

Culcasia Explore Culcasia, a genus of African climbing aroids with simple foliage and unique spadices, prized for its subtle tropical elegance.

Cyrtosperma Genus Cyrtosperma includes swamp-dwelling Araceae from Southeast Asia and Pacific islands, noted for giant taro species cultivated for starchy rhizomes.

Dieffenbachia Discover Dieffenbachia, the tropical dumb cane genus known for its bold variegated leaves and easy care.

Dracontioides Dracontioides is a rare Araceae genus of swamp herbs native to eastern Brazil, featuring glossy perforated leaves and a foul-smelling inflorescence.

Dracontium Discover Dracontium, a genus of tropical American aroids featuring round caudex tubers that swell at bloom and compact unisexual inflorescences.

Dracunculus Explore Dracunculus, a genus of Araceae with striking purple spathes, divided leaves, and unique scent, native to Mediterranean and Macaronesia.

Eminium Discover Eminium, a genus of tuberous aroids native to North Africa and Central Asia, adapted to sandy and rocky soils with unique solitary inflorescences.

Englerarum Englerarum is a monotypic aroid genus native to south-central China and Indochina known for its dwarf elephant ear form and distinct phylogenetic lineage.

Epipremnum Discover Epipremnum, a genus of tropical evergreen climbing vines prized for dramatic foliage, diverse leaf shapes and easy indoor cultivation.

Fenestratarum Discover Fenestratarum, a Borneo-native Araceae genus with two species uniquely adapted to sandstone and basalt habitats.

Filarum Filarum is a monotypic aroid genus from northeastern Peru, known for its tuberous geophyte habit and distinctive threadlike stamen connectives.

Furtadoa Explore Furtadoa, a small Araceae genus from western Malesia known for its creeping stems, leathery leaves, and distinctive paired floral structures.

Galantharum Monotypic Araceae genus housing Galantharum kishii, an endemic Borneo aroid notable for its unique spadix rostrum structure and fleeting spathe.

Gamogyne Discover Gamogyne, a small genus of six Borneo-endemic aroids in the Araceae family adapted to fast flowing stream habitats.

Gearum Monotypic Araceae genus Gearum brasiliense is a rhizomatous geophyte from central Brazil’s Cerrado, producing beetle-pollinated inflorescences.

Gonatopus Gonatopus is a small Araceae genus of five African geophytes known for a single leaf arising from a tuber and unique spadix inflorescences.

Gorgonidium Discover Gorgonidium, an Andean aroid genus of tuberous plants with vivid purple spathes and glossy black fruits, native to Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Gosong Monotypic Araceae genus from Borneo with a rheophytic subshrub adapted to stream banks, described by Wong and Boyce in 2018.

Gymnostachys Explore Gymnostachys, a unique monotypic aroid genus native to eastern Australia known for its linear-veined leaves and distinctive spadix clusters.

Hapaline Discover Hapaline, a genus of seven small tuberous aroids native to forests from southern China to Borneo. Perfect for enthusiasts exploring rare Araceae.

Helicodiceros Monotypic Araceae genus Helicodiceros comprises the dead horse arum, whose heat-emitting, carrion-scented blooms attract fly pollinators in Mediterranean.

Hestia Discover Hestia, a monotypic aroid genus endemic to Malaysia and Borneo, known for its slender wiry peduncles and nodding inflorescences.

Heteroaridarum Discover Heteroaridarum, a monotypic aroid genus from Borneo, thriving on streamside rocks with resilient leaves and spathes in fast-flowing waters.

Heteropsis Discover Heteropsis, a genus of neotropical climbing aroids with shifting juvenile and adult foliage, valued for ornamental and fiber use.

Hera Monotypic aroid genus endemic to Borneo, Hera includes the single species Hera hebe, first named Aridarum hebe in 2014 and reclassified in 2018.

Holochlamys Monotypic Araceae genus Holochlamys contains H. beccarii, a rheophytic arum native to New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago with a white spathe.

Homalomena Explore Homalomena, an Araceae genus of about 160 evergreen perennials native to tropical Asia, prized for aromatic, heart-shaped foliage and concealed green spathes.

Hottarum Discover Hottarum, a rheophytic aroid genus endemic to Borneo, featuring the sole species H. truncatum with a white spathe and narrow leaves.

Idimanthus Monotypic aroid genus from southeastern Brazil, represented by I. amorphophalloides and distinguished by its beaked spadix and dense flower clusters.

Incarum Explore Incarum, a monotypic Andean aroid with pinnatifid leaves and early-flowering inflorescences, native to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Jasarum Explore Jasarum, a unique monotypic aquatic aroid with ribbon-like leaves and solitary spathes native to acidic blackwater rivers in Venezuela and Guyana.

Josefia Discover Josefia, a monotypic aroid genus from Borneo known for its intricate leaves and unique spadix, first described in 2023.

Kiewia Kiewia is a small aroid genus native to Southern Thailand and Western Malesia, with three species of perennial lithophytes in wet tropical forests.

Lagenandra Lagenandra is a rare aquatic aroid genus from South Asia, closely related to Cryptocoryne and favored by aquarists and collectors alike.

Lasia Discover Lasia, a genus of two spiny-stemmed aquatic aroids from tropical Asia, known for striking pinnatifid leaves and edible young shoots.

Lasimorpha Discover Lasimorpha, a monotypic aroid genus from African swamps, known for its gigantic petioles and colony-forming habit in tropical wetlands.

Lazarum Lazarum is a small genus of tuberous aroids native to New Guinea and Australia, restored in 2022 for its distinctive tubular spathes and internal septa.

Lemna Explore Lemna, the tiny floating duckweed genus in the Araceae family. Rapid growth aids nutrient cycling and water purification.

Leucocasia Explore Leucocasia, a monotypic aroid genus native to South China and Malesia, known for its giant elephant ear leaves and tuberous growth habit.

Lorenzia Monotypic Araceae genus Lorenzia from northern Brazil, unveiled in 2012 and honoring botanist Harri Lorenzi.

Lysichiton Discover Lysichiton, the skunk cabbage genus of Araceae, with two temperate wetland species featuring distinctive spathes and proto-aroid traits.

Mangonia Mangonia is a small Araceae genus of tuberous herbs native to southern Brazil and Uruguay, noted for its linear leaves and distinctive spadix.

Monstera Explore Monstera, a tropical aroid genus known for its iconic split leaves and climbing habit. Perfect for plant lovers seeking dramatic indoor foliage.

Montrichardia Explore Montrichardia, a helophytic aroid genus from tropical American wetlands, valued for its robust emergent growth and distinctive leaves.

Nabalu Discover Nabalu, a monotypic aroid genus from Borneo represented by Nabalu corneri with a massive pachycaul trunk and white inflorescence.

Naiadia Discover Naiadia, a monotypic Araceae genus native to Borneo, featuring Naiadia zygoseta thriving in wet tropical habitats.

Nephthytis Discover Nephthytis, a small African aroid genus with striking arrowhead leaves and versatile growth habits.

Ooia Discover Ooia, an Araceae genus endemic to Borneo with two species notable for their persistent spadix axis through fruit maturation.

Orontium Explore Orontium, the golden-club aroid genus. Discover its single living aquatic species, fossil relatives, and unique tiny spathe in North America.

Peltandra Peltandra, known as arrow arums, are aquatic perennials with distinctive arrowhead leaves and green spathes, native to eastern North American wetlands.

Philodendron Discover Philodendron, a tropical genus of over 600 species known for striking leaf shapes, climbing habits and lush appeal in humid forests.

Philonotion Discover Philonotion, a small South American genus of rhizomatous aroids with three species, noted for solitary heart-shaped leaves and tubular spathes.

Phyllotaenium Discover Phyllotaenium, a monotypic Araceae genus from Panama and Colombia, known for its tuberous growth, lanceolate leaves and pale green spathes.

Phymatarum Discover Phymatarum, a unique rheophytic Araceae genus from Borneo, known for its creeping stems, narrow leaves, and horned male flowers.

Pichinia Discover Pichinia, a monotypic Araceae genus native to Borneo’s limestone landscapes, celebrated for its distichous leaves and lithophytic growth

Pinellia Discover Pinellia, East Asian green dragons of the Araceae family, known for their distinct hooded inflorescences and role in traditional Chinese medicine.

Piptospatha Discover Piptospatha, a genus of rheophytic aroids native to Thailand and Borneo, known for splash-cup spathes and riverbank habitats.

Pistia Discover Pistia, the floating water lettuce genus of Araceae known for its dense aquatic rosettes, ornamental appeal, and ecological impact.

Podolasia Podolasia is a monotypic aroid native to Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, found in peat swamps with arrow-shaped leaves, purple-tipped blooms and red berries

Pothoidium Discover Pothoidium, a monotypic aroid genus with unique climbing habit and triangular-lanceolate leaves, native to Taiwan and Malesia

Pothos Discover Pothos, a genus of around 65 tropical climbing vines in the Araceae family, prized for its diverse foliage and easy care

Protarum Endemic Seychelles aroid Protarum sechellarum is a vulnerable monotypic genus thriving on mossy forest floors in granite outcrops

Pseudohydrosme Discover Pseudohydrosme, a rare African aroid genus of tuberous geophytes native to Gabon and Cameroon, notable for hidden peduncles and unique reproductive traits

Pursegloveia Discover Pursegloveia, a small genus of six Araceae species native to Borneo, known for its unique forest-floor blooms and recent botanical discovery

Pycnospatha Pycnospatha is a small Araceae genus of two tuberous species native to Indochina, prized for their compact form and distinctive spathes

Remusatia Discover Remusatia, a small Araceae genus of tuberous herbs with peltate leaves and bulbil-bearing stolons, native to tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia

Rhaphidophora Discover Rhaphidophora, a genus of climbing tropical aroids with pinnatifid leaves and heteroblastic growth, native from Africa to the Western Pacific.

Rhodospatha Rhodospatha is a genus of about 75 neotropical aroids known for their slender climbing vines and oblong leaves, native from Mexico to Trinidad.

Rhynchopyle Discover Rhynchopyle, a small genus of rheophytic aroids endemic to Borneo, known for its slender inflorescences and unique streamside habitat

Sauromatum Explore Sauromatum, a genus of tuberous aroids known for brief, heat-producing, foul-smelling blooms and diverse leaf forms

Scaphispatha Discover Scaphispatha, a small South American aroid genus of two species native to Bolivia and Brazil, prized for slender peltate leaves

Schismatoglottis Discover Schismatoglottis, a vibrant genus of over 250 non-aromatic aroids from tropical Asia prized for heart-shaped foliage and diverse ecological niches

Schottariella Monotypic Araceae genus from Borneo with a single species, S. mirifica. Found on vertical mud banks by streams, notable for its striking inflorescence.

Schottarum Explore Schottarum, a Bornean genus of stream-adapted aroids honoring botanist H.W. Schott with two rheophytic species

Scindapsus Genus of ornamental climbing aroids native to Southeast Asia and the western Pacific, known for decorative foliage and ease of cultivation

Spathantheum Discover Spathantheum, a small Andean aroid genus of two species adapted to high-altitude grasslands from Peru to Argentina.

Spathicarpa Explore Spathicarpa, a genus of four South American Aroids renowned for their fused spadix-spathe inflorescences and distinctive tropical origins.

Spathiphyllum Explore Spathiphyllum, the peace lilies of about 50 species, celebrated for glossy leaves, elegant white spathes, and effortless care in homes or shaded gardens.

Spirodela Explore Spirodela, the free-floating duckweed genus of Araceae, known for rapid growth, small fronds, and global freshwater habitats

Stenospermation Discover Stenospermation, a genus of about 80 Central and South American Araceae, prized for nodding white spathes and versatile epiphytic or terrestrial growth

Steudnera Discover Steudnera, a genus of Araceae native to southern China, the Himalayas and Indochina, valued for its pleated leaves and creeping forest habit

Stylochaeton Discover Stylochaeton, a small African aroid genus with underground rhizomes, hastate leaves, and rare subterranean blooms across sub-Saharan habitats.

Symplocarpus Discover Symplocarpus, the skunk cabbages: thermogenic Araceae with large leaves and early-spring blooms native to temperate North America and Asia

Synandrospadix Monotypic Araceae genus Synandrospadix, native to Peru–Argentina, known for its foul-smelling purple-spotted inflorescences and tuberous growth.

Syngonium Discover Syngonium, the arrowhead aroid known for its changing leaf shapes and easy care—perfect for both new and experienced plant enthusiasts.

Taccarum VDiscover Taccarum, a genus of tuberous Araceae native to rocky habitats in tropical South America, prized for its unique geophytic growth

Tawaia Discover Tawaia, a monotypic Araceae genus endemic to Sabah, Borneo, known for its rheophytic habit on ultramafic river boulders in moist lowland forests

Theriophonum Explore Theriophonum, a genus of compact aroids native to India and Sri Lanka, noted for its small tuberous herbs and distinct ovule arrangements.

Toga Discover Toga, a small genus of six Araceae species native to Borneo, celebrated for their unique spathes and tropical forest adaptations

Typhonium Discover Typhonium, a genus of about 50 aroid species native to Asia, New Guinea, and Australia, known for tuberous roots and striking hooded spathes.

Typhonodorum Discover Typhonodorum, a unique Araceae genus native to Madagascar and nearby islands, known for its water banana-like pseudostem and striking cream spathes.

Ulearum Discover Ulearum, a small Amazonian genus of Araceae with two arrowhead-leaved species from Peru to Brazil, admired for compact form and unique foliage.

Urospatha Discover Urospatha, a genus of 11 aroids native to Central and South American swamps, known for arrow-shaped leaves and spiral-tipped spathes.

Vesta Explore Vesta, a monotypic aroid genus native to Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, distinguished by its long leaves and recent classification.

Vietnamocaesia Monotypic aroid genus endemic to Central Vietnam, notable for its nodding inflorescences and unique free staminate flowers.

Vivaria Vivaria is a monotypic Araceae genus endemic to southern Ecuador’s semi-arid Andes, defined in 2022 for its unique molecular and morphological traits.

Wolffia Explore Wolffia, the world’s smallest flowering plants, thriving in freshwater and noted for their rapid reproduction and ecological importance.

Wolffiella Discover Wolffiella, a genus of tiny free-floating aroids in the duckweed subfamily, rootless thalli 2–10 mm wide, found across America, Africa, and Arabia.

Xanthosoma Discover Xanthosoma, a Neotropical aroid genus grown for starchy corms and striking arrowhead foliage, valued in cuisine and ornamentation.

Zamioculcas Discover Zamioculcas, a monotypic genus from East Africa prized for its glossy pinnate leaves, succulent rhizomes and exceptional ease of care.

Zantedeschia Discover Zantedeschia, the graceful calla lilies of southern Africa, known for their elegant spathes and arrowhead leaves, popular in gardens and bouquets.

Zomicarpa Discover Zomicarpa, a small genus of tuberous Araceae endemic to eastern Brazil, prized for its understated foliage and unique seasonal blooms.

Zomicarpella Explore Zomicarpella, a genus of Amazonian aroids with arrowhead leaves and rhizomatous growth, native to Colombia, Peru and Brazil.

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