The spadix of a typical Araceae plant resembles a corn cob and is usually surrounded by a modified leaf bract called a spathe. Most members of the family grow from rhizomes or tubers beneath the soil surface.
Scientists observe that Symplocarpus foetidus produces thermal energy up to 45 degrees Celsius to attract beetles for pollination. This process also prevents tissue damage in colder northern regions where these plants grow.
Consumption of raw aroid vegetation may cause edema or vesicle formation within the mouth due to irritating calcium oxalate crystals known as raphides. Heavier instances of ingestion could trigger anaphylactic shock causing throat swelling and restricted breathing.
The group did not become recognized as distinct until the 16th century arrived. Antoine Laurent de Jussieu classified all climbing aroids as Pothos in 1789, and Heinrich Wilhelm Schott published Genera Aroidearum in 1858 establishing the first major system.
Anthurium and Monstera stand among the most well-known genera within this plant family. The largest unbranched inflorescence in the world belongs to Amorphophallus titanum while the smallest flowering plant exists within the duckweed genus Wolffia.