FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

DEGREE IN BIOLOGY (EDUCATION)

SBB3043 - BIODIVERSITY IN BACTERIA, FUNGI, ARCHAEA AND

PLANTAE

ARACEAE

PREPARED BY:

MATRIC NO. NAME

D20171078125 REBECCA JOHNTY

D20171078128 NUR AZNIRATUL HUSNA BINTI RUSLAN

D20171078134 CHRISNICOLE SUTER

D20171078132 KENNETH AMYSTER ANAK DILOP

D20171078135 RONALD DECK YAMI

LECTURER’S NAME:
PROF. MADYA DR. FATIMAH BINTI MOHAMED

DATE:

4 DECEMBER 2017
...............................................…
Abstract
Araceae is an evergreen plant comprises 114 genera and about 3750 species of
flowering plant worldwide. The flowers are characteristically borne on a distinctive
inflorescence known as a spadix and are usually surrounded by a single leaf like bract known
as spathe. Several species are important in the floral industry, and a number are common
housplants. The samples are collected around Tanjung Malim area and morpphology
observation are done. The Araceae family are mostly used for ornamental, few are used in
medicinal and food.

Background
The Araceae plant family is also known as the Arum family and is a member of the
monocots. They can be found around the world, they are primarily native to the rainforests of
subtropical and tropical regions. Vining forms often have large, fleshy aerial roots. The
leaves can vary greatly in shape and many have deep lobes, slits or holes in them. The
inflorescence of this family is unusual, consisting of an expanded, leaf-like spathe and a
column of tiny flower, spadix. The spathe is often colourful as in many anthuriums. In this
study, we used Araceae species within the genus Alocasia, Aglaonema, Anthurium,
Colocasia and Caladium.

The Alocasia genus contain a variety of showy, large leaved, tropical plants, some
with colourful leaves. The Aglaonema is an outstanding plant with their dark green and
glossy variegated leaves. Their leave have attractive silver markings along the primary veins.
The Anthurium genus is a tropical American herbaceous plants, comprising about 825
species in the Araceae family, many of which are popular foliage plants. A few species are
widely grown for the florist trade for their showy, long-lasting blossoms, which consists of
colourful leathery, shiny spathe surrounding a central rodlike spadix.The Colocasia genus is
a wetland herbaceous perennial with huge “elephant ear” like leave. It produce a heart
shaped leaves and petioles that all emanate from the upright tuberous rootstock. The
Caladium are tuberous tropical plants that are grown for their spectacularly colourful foliage.
Caladiums thrive in warm, humid shade and dazzle, pointed arrow-shaped leaves splashed
with shades of green, white, cream pink and red. Each genus has their own characteristic that
enables them to be in their own genus based on their morphological characters.
Result
Alocasia
Kris plant, Alocasia sanderiana W. Bull

Figure 1.1 Adaxial part Figure 1.2 Abaxial part

Giant elephant, Alocasia odora

Figure 2
Malayan monster, Alocasia portei Schott.

Figure 3

Colocasia
Keladi, Colocasia gigantea

Figure 4
 Anthurium
Flamingo flower, Anthurium andraenum Linden ex André

Figure 5

Flamingo flower, Anthurium kerrich (Cultivar)

Figure 6
Tail flower, Anthurium white lady

Figure 7.1 - Spathe and spadix Figure 7.2 - Leaf abaxial

Flamigo flow, Atnthurium romance (Cultivar)

Figure 8
 Aglaonema
Spotted Evergreen, Aglaonema costatum

Figure 9

Caladium
Angel’s Wing, Caladium lindenii (Andre) Madison

Figure 10
Discussion
Araceae are most diverse and abundant in the humid tropics, and it is there all that the
richest variety of their life forms are found. Araceae is perennial, herbaceous, evergreen or
seasonally dormant bisexual,monoecious, rarely paradiecious, very rarely dioecious,
sometimes gigantic, very rarely submicroscopic, often laticiferous or sometimes resiniferous
herbs, common life forms. Leaf blade simple to compound, extremely variable in shape,
most commonly elliptic, ovate, oblong, sagittate, hastate; venation- midrib almost always
differentiated, sometimes massive and succulent, primary veins usually arising pinnately
from the midrib and then called primary lateral vein, or arising from primaries at a wide
angle and then arching strongly towards leaf margin (eg. Colocasia). Inflorescence terminal,
solitary or 2 to many synflorescence, consisting of a spadix of small flowers and subtended
by a spathe, usually erec. Spathe nearly always conspicious, very variable in shape and
colour, simpler forms often green, reflexed or spreading, more complex forms often showy
and highly coloured, erect, usually either boat-shaped or constricted centrally to form a basal
tube and an apical limb. Waxy and leathery leaf surfaces.

There are 5 genus in this mini project which are Alocasia, Colocasia, Anthurium,
Aglaonema and Caladium. Plants in genus Alocasia can be identify by their characteristics of
having stiff petiole; the petiole are stiff and continuous to the midrib then causing the leaf to
point upward. Alocasia grows best in full shade or partial sun exposure, have tuber and
rhizome and most Alocasia are not edible. Infructescences erect, fruits medium-sized,
ripening orange-red, odourless. For Colocasia, the petiole of Colocasia connect down from
the notches at the leaves where this cause the leaves to hang downward. Colocasia can grow
in full exposure of sun, have tuber and mostly Colocasia are edible. Spathe with a well-
defined lower tubular part separated from spathe limb by a pronounced constrictin and
forming a chamber enclosing all or most of the pistillate flower zone. Spathe limb deciduous
prior to fruit maturation. Pistillate flower many, arranged in a dense spiral. Fruit ripening red
and odourless or yellow-brown odorous, exposed by the persistent lower spathe actively
splitting from top to bottom. Alocasia are contrast to Colocasia. Meanwhile for Anthurium,
all anthurium have attracting coloured spathe and entire margin. Aglaonema plants are
mostly suffructicose. Fruit conspicuous red or pink berries not surrounded by a persistent
spathe. (Mashbor Mansor, 2012). Terrestrial forest herbs mainly with erect firm stems, and
erect solid petioles. Fruits medium-sized, ripening or rarely pink, not water dispersed.
(Mashbor Mansor,2012). Genus Caladium have spectacular colourful foliage often with red,
white and purple colour on adaxial of leaf.

Figure 1.1 and figure 1.2, Alocasia sanderiana or Kris plant is a perennial, evergreen,
pelted, V-shaped, undulate margin and deeply lobed, leathery leaf texture, cordate shaped,
pinnate venation, acuminate apex, sagittate leaf bases and a glossy deep-green with large
silvery white veins. About 30-40 cm long and 15-20 cm wide, with eggplant purple
undersides as seen in Figure 1.2. The genus name, Alocasia is derived from the Greek word,
kolokasia¸ meaning lotus root which resembles the root of this plant. The species epithet,
sanderiana is named after Henry Frederick Conrad Sander (1847-1920), a German-born
British nurseryman. Originate from Philippines. Occur on Mindanao Island (Phillipines) in
Misamis Occident (Mt. Malindang) and Bukidnon Provinces (Impalutao Reforestration
Project). Cultivated as an ornamental plant, for its large dramatic foliage. It also reported that
the species is used by the natives as to treat headaches. Fifty percent of the global population
is utilized. The plant light preference is semi-shade or full shade with lots of water or
moderate water. The propagation is by using seed, division of the rhizome planting them
above the soil line to prevent the leaves from decay at the base. The flowers are monoecious,
cream white colour, inflorescence with spathe and spadix type located at terminal position.

Figure 2, Alocasia odora or also known as the “Elephant’s Ear” is a herbaceous

perennial type of plant. This plant was originated from the Southern Asia, Indonesia,
Malaysia, New Guinea, Australia or the Pacific Island. The distribution of this plant is from
Indomalesia to Oceania. Elephant’s Ear is also an evergreen plant that retain green leaves
throughout the year. The leaves of this plant is simple. The leaf texture is waxy and smooth.
The shape of the leaf is cordate with entire undulate. The leaf apex is shortly acuminate
while the bases is cordate. The venation of this leaf is pinnate. The plant is a bisexual plant
as the male and female part are within the same flower in the spadix located at the terminal
part of the plant. The plant is infloresence. The flower are white or light green in colour. The
fruit of this plant is a simple with berry type. The fruit colour when its matured is orange.
Alocasia odora are use in medicine. The rhizomes are used for treating stomach aches,
abdominal pains and also used externally to treat snake or insect bites.
 Figure 3, Alocasia porteii or known as Malaysian monster in Malaysia is a perennial
tuberous plant valued for its foliage. This plant is native to Philippines The leaves are
heavily scalloped and are very decorative, can grow to a metre long. Leaves erect, few in
clustered at top of the stem. Petioles to 1.5 m long, leaf blades sagittate, deeply pinnatifid to
1.5 cm or longer, sagittate base, acuminate apex. Evergreen, color-green, texture is leathery.
It can grow to around 2 metre tall and wide. Inflorescence from center of the crown of
leaves, on stalks to 30 cm in length. Spathe to 40 cm I length, green or dark brownish, green.
Spadix to 32 cm long, female zone white, to 4 cm long, male zone whitish, to 8 cm long.
Fruit enclosed in persistent spathe. It is tropical plant but can grown in temperate areas in a
warm spot. It may go dormant if the temperature is too low, but it will reshoot when the
weather warms. It likes filtered sun to deep shade position. Used for ornamental purpose.

Figure 4, Colocasia gigantea or the Elephant ear has simple leaf. The shape of the
leaf is cordate-shaped, undulate margin, obtuse apices, cordate bases, pinnate venation and
the leaf arrangement is peltate where the petiole attached centrally. It has no stem but it has a
long petiole. The root system is fibrous. Inflorescence with with color. Simple fruit and
fleshy with white mature fruit colour and glossy texture. Origin from China and Southeast
Asia. Distribution: East Asia, Southern China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia The leaf stem are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Fruit-raw,
eaten as snack.

Figure 5, Anthurium andraeanum Linden ex André. Origin from Southwestern

Columbia. Distribution: South American. Perennial. Leaf type is simple / unifoliate. Leaf
arrangement along stemnis alternate. Leaf attachment to stem is spiral. Leaf shape is heart
shaped or cordate. Leaf venation is palmate. Leaf margin is entire. Leaf apex is acuminate.
Leaf base is auriculate. Flower colour is red spathe and yellow spadix. Flower grouping is
cluster Flower location is axillary. The flower, the inflorescence type is spathe and spadix.
Axillary, cream-yellow tail-like spadix, flat waxy red spathe. The flower grouping in cluster.
The specific epithet andraeanum is named after Edouard F. Andre (1840-1911). It is a small
and herbaceous evergreen plant which has attractive waxy red spathe and dark green foliage,
growing upright to 40 cm tall. The genus Anthurium means flower-tail, which refers to the
tail-like spadix. Crushed leaves rubbed on caterpillar sores. In China, reportedly used for
rheumatic pains. The uses of crushed leaves rubbed on caterpillar sores. In China, reportedly
used for rheumatic pains.
 Figure 6, Anthurium Rose Blush with scientific name, Anthurium kerrich Rose
Blush. Leaf shape is cordate, leaf surface is smooth, both adaxial and abaxial are waxy,
shiny. The colour of the leaf is light green, sometimes dark green. The apices is acuminate,
the base is cordate, palmate venation, the margin is entire. Inflorescence type is spathe and
spadix. Flower location is axillary. The spathe is pink in colour, heart shape, waxy, shiny
surface. The spadix is white in colour, the surface is roughly. Anthurium kerrich Rose Blush
is a cultivar of Anthurium andraenum. The only differences between these two plants is the
colour of the spathe. The spathe of Anthurium andraenum is red while the spathe of
Anthurium kerrich Rose Blush is pink. Used for ornamental purposes.

Figure 7, Anthurium white lady with common name Flamingo-lily. The plant division
is perennial. The lifespan is unbeatable, it keeps flowering or month of June. Distributed at
Costa Rica to the north. The origin is Horticulture. The suggested climate is warm, humid.
The leaf retention is evergreen. The mature leaf colour is green. The mature leaf texture is
waxy. The type of leaf is simple. The leaf attachment to stem is petiole. The leaf shape is
lanceolate. The leaf venation is pinnate. The leaf margin is entire. The leaf apex and leaf
base is acute. The several characteristics of floral, the flower and plant sexuality is bisexual
which is monoecious. The flower colour is white. The flower grouping is inflorescence. The
flower location is terminal. The inflorescence type is spadix and spathe.The tiny flowers are
on a slender, finger-like or tail-like spadix above a very shiny, waxy, colorful, crinkled,
heart-shaped spathe. The flowers are sometimes followed by small, fleshy berries. White in
colour. This plants are poisonous and contain calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause
severe mouth irritation and swelling if ingested. . The uses is ornamental (attractive but no
having practical value).

Figure 8, Anthurium romance with common name Flamingo Flower is a horticulture

plant with distribution at Costa Rica to the north. Perennial with tiny flowers are on a
slender, finger-like or tail-like spadix above a very shiny, waxy, colorful, crinkled, heart-
shaped spathe. The flower grouping is inflorescence. The flower location is terminal. The
inflorescence type is spadix and spathe. The flowers are sometimes followed by small, fleshy
berries. Mixture of green and pink in colour.The leaves are large, glossy dark green or even
black in some varieties, leathery, alternate, and oblong-heart-shaped to arrow-shaped. The
plants are poisonous and contain calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause severe mouth
irritation and swelling if ingested. The leaf retention is evergreen. The mature leaf colour is
green. The mature leaf texture is waxy. The type pf leaf is simple. The leaf attachment to
stem is petiole. The leaf shape is cordate. The leaf venation is pinnate. The leaf margin is
entire. The leaf apex is acuminate. The leaf base is cordate. The several characteristics of
floral, the flower and plant sexuality is bisexual which is monoecious.

Figure 9, Aglaonema costatum or also known as the “Spotted Evergreen”. This is a

herbaceous perennial type of plant. Spotted Evergreen was originated from Bangladesh to
Peninsular Malaysia, specifically in Pulau Langkawi. The distribution of this plant is in
Thailand, South Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in Pulau Langkawi. Spotted
Evergreen is an evergreen plant that retain green leaves throughout the year. The leaves of
this plant is simple and green with a stripe along the midrib and many, irregular-shaped spots
scattered on its leaf. The leaf texture is waxy and smooth. The shape of the leaf is cordate
with entire margin. The leaf apex is acute while the bases is obtuse. The venation of this leaf
is pinnate. The plant is a bisexual plant as the male and female part are within the same
flower in the spadix located at the terminal part of the plant. The plant is infloresence. The
flower are white or green in colour. The fruit of this plant is a simple and fleshy fruit. The
fruit colour when its matured is red or yellow. Spotted Evergreen are suitable as indoor
plants because of their air-cleansing properties. They are poisonous plants. When cut, their
milky juice or sap may cause skin irritation. If taken orally, it will cause lips, mouth, tongue
and throat irritation. This plant used normal garden soil. They like warm room temperature
and shady places away from direct sun.

Figure 10, Angel’s wing, Caladium lindenii (Andre) Madison. Origin from
Colombia. An evergreen herbaceous shrub, grown for its beautiful variegated foliage. Plant
can grow into a dense clump to about 2-3 feet tall and as wide.It has large and showy thin-
leathery leaves that are hastate shaped(arrowhead-shaped), somewhat elongated and slightly
rounded with prominent ears, resembling angel’s wings! Leaves about 1-1.5 feet long in dark
velvety green and broadly veined in striking silvery white are held on slender greenish
brown stalks that are rough or tomentose. The venation of the leaves is pinnate and the leaf
arrangement is peltate. Stalks can be upright or arching measuring 1-2 feet long.
Conclusion
At the end of this project, we are able to identify and classify plant into their family,
genus and species based on the morphological character. Each of genus inhibit special
character that differ from other genus.

Acknowledge
This project was supported by Prof. Madya Dr. Fatimah Mohamed. We would like to
show our gratitude to Prof. Madya Dr. Fatimah Mohamed for sharing the pearls of wisdom
with us during the course of this project, although any errors are our own and should not
tarnish the reputations of this esteemed person.

References
1. M. Mansor, P.C. Boyce, A.S. Othman, B. Sulaiman. (2012). The Araceae of
Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysia: Universiti Sains Malaysia Press
2. Warren W., Burnie G., Greig D. [et.al] (2004). Botanical The Illustrated A-Z of over
10,000 garden plants and how to cultivate them. Australia; Random House Australia
Pty Ltd
3. Ismail Saidin (2013). Bunga-bungaan Malaysia (Edisi ketiga). Malaysia; Utusan
Printcorp Sdn. Bhd
4. Salam Abdullah (1990) Poisonous Plants of Malaysia. Malaysia; Art Printing Works
Sdn. Bhd
5. Henderson M.R. (1961) Common Malayan wildflowers. Great Britain; Longmans
Green and Co Ltd
6. David H., Phummai S. (2000). Tropical Plants of Asia. Singapore; Times Edition-
Marshall Cavendish
7. Bell A. D. & Bryan A. (2008). Plant Form an Illustrated Guide to Flowering Plant
Morphology. London; Timber Press, Inc