What does arum mean?
An arum is a flowering plant of the genus Arum, best known in Europe as the woodland species whose green, hooded spathe curls over a spike of minute flowers, borne on distinctive arrow-shaped leaves marked in some plants with dark spots. The name also extends, more broadly, to members of the arum family (Araceae), a large group of mostly herbaceous plants that includes calla lilies, philodendrons, and peace lilies. In British gardens and hedgerows, the plant is affectionately known by folk names such as lords-and-ladies and cuckoopint, while in floristry the term "arum lily" denotes the elegant white Zantedeschia favored in bouquets. Botanically, what looks like a single flower is in fact an inflorescence: the showy hood is a modified leaf enclosing hundreds of tiny true flowers. The word derives ultimately from the Greek "aron," adopted into Latin, and it remains chiefly a term of botanical, horticultural, and literary register rather than casual speech.
A plant of the genus Arum, having arrow-shaped leaves and an inflorescence consisting of a hooded spathe around a fleshy spike (spadix) of tiny flowers.
"Wild arums appeared along the lane in April, their pale hoods just beginning to open."
Often used specifically for Arum maculatum in Britain; in floriculture, "arum lily" refers to Zantedeschia species of the same family but different genus.
Any plant belonging to the arum family (Araceae), a large group of flowering plants that includes callas, philodendrons, anthuriums, and peace lilies.
"Many popular houseplants, from monstera to peace lily, are members of the arum family."
The standard plural adds -s; it is regular in both botanical and general writing.
"The shady border was planted with ferns and arums."
The 'flower' of an arum isn't really a flower at all — that elegant white hood is a modified leaf called a spathe, wrapped around a spike of hundreds of tiny true flowers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arum
The word "arum" comes from Latin "arum," which the Romans borrowed from Greek "áron," the classical name for these plants. The Greek term passed into Latin botanical usage and was later formalized by Linnaeus as the name of the genus in the eighteenth century. Related descriptive terms such as "aroid" (a plant of the arum family) share this same Greek root.
How arum is actually used
In British usage, "arum" often refers specifically to the native woodland plant Arum maculatum, commonly known as lords-and-ladies or cuckoopint. In gardening and floral contexts, "arum lily" typically means Zantedeschia aethiopica, which botanically belongs to the same family but a different genus. The word is somewhat technical and appears mainly in botanical, horticultural, and literary writing rather than everyday conversation.
Easily confused with arum
"Aurum" is the Latin word for the element gold (chemical symbol Au), whereas "arum" is a genus of flowering plants; they differ by a single vowel despite looking and sounding similar.