arum family

American  

[air-uhm] / ˈɛər əm /

noun

1. the plant family Araceae, characterized by herbaceous plants having numerous tiny flowers on a fleshy spike above or sheathed by a large spathe, and including the anthurium, calla lily, jack-in-the-pulpit, and philodendron.

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Other Word Forms

• arumlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of arum family

1545–55; < Latin < Greek áron wake-robin

Example Sentences

Taro, t�′rō, n. a plant of the arum family, widely cultivated for its edible roots in the islands of the Pacific.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Sweet′ener, one who, or that which, sweetens; Sweet′ening, act of sweetening: that which sweetens; Sweet′-flag, -rush, an aromatic plant of the genus Acorus of the arum family; Sweet′heart, a lover or mistress.—n.pl.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Neb prepared some agouti soup, a smoked capybara ham, to which was added the boiled tubercules of the "caladium macrorhizum," an herbaceous plant of the arum family.

From The Mysterious Island by Verne, Jules

The dasheen is a broad-leaved member of the arum family.

From Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome by Vehling, Joseph Dommers