Characteristics of arizarum, rules for caring for a plant when grown in open ground and indoors, how to reproduce, fight against diseases and pests, notes for flower growers, species. Arizarum (Arisarum) belongs to the genus of plants with a herbaceous form of growth and belonging to the Aroid family (Araceae). In natural conditions, it prefers to settle in woodlands among shrub thickets that can grow on stones, climbs into crevices between rocks. Covers areas stretching from Macronesia to the Mediterranean, including the western regions of the Caucasus. For these areas, the plant is endemic, that is, in nature it is not possible to find it anywhere else. This genus combines only 4 species.
| Family name | Aroid |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Growth features | Herbaceous |
| Reproduction | Vegetative (dividing a bush or depositing side shoots) |
| Landing period in open ground | Rooted cuttings, planted from spring to autumn |
| Disembarkation scheme | Up to 30 cm between seedlings |
| Substrate | Light, nutritious, rich in organic matter, sandy loam or loam |
| Soil acidity (pH) | 6, 5–7, 5 |
| Illumination | Penumbra or sun |
| Moisture indicators | Stagnation of moisture is harmful, watering is moderate, the need for drainage |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | Up to 0.15 m |
| Color of flowers | The tube of the flower is whitish or grayish |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Ear |
| Flowering time | Spring and Autumn |
| Decorative time | Spring-autumn |
| Place of application | Rabatki, rock garden, rockeries, hedges, curbs |
| USDA zone | 5th to 9th |
The scientific name of this unusual representative of the flora is due to the translation from the Greek of the word "arisaron", which was used by Pedanius Dioscorides (about 40 AD - about 90 AD) by the famous military doctor, naturalist and expert in pharmacology. This prominent figure was the name given to small grass, which was mentioned by Pliny the Elder (22–23 AD - 79 AD) in his scientific work "Natural Histories". However, it is not clear which of the herbs he meant: arizarum or arum. People call the plant "mouse tail" because of the unusual end of the sheet of the veil.
All four species have a tuberous root, the shape of which can vary from ovoid to cylindrical, occasionally with thinned root processes that form stolons (lateral elongated shoots that tend to die off quickly, possessing elongated internodes). Such plants have a pronounced dormant period.
Sheet plates are formed from one to a maximum of three units. The surface of the petioles is usually covered with sparsely located speckles. Sheaths of the leaf are shortened. The shape of the foliage can be either heart-shaped and pointed, or resemble an arrow in outline. The primary veins are distinguished by feathery contours, they start from the base of the petioles and, not approaching the very edge, merge into a single vein. From veins of a higher order, a patterned reticular appearance is formed. Leaves with petioles do not exceed 10 cm in height, forming a continuous “carpet” of light green color.
It is the flowering process that is a distinctive feature of the "mouse tail", since the formed inflorescences have a very unusual silhouette. Together with the foliage, the formation of an inflorescence begins, in which the peduncle may be equal to the leaf or slightly shorter than it. Often its surface is covered with specks. There is a blanket sheet that is not durable. It looks like a tube with the edges connected, its shape is in the form of a cylinder, but there is compression at the very top. The color of the tube is whitish or with stripes along the surface. The color of the stripes ranges from white to pale greenish. The free part of the Arisarum tube remains open, the tip is pointed or stretched into an elongated tape. The latter can have a contour from straight to curved, resembling a mouse tail. This part is painted in different tones: green, brown or purple-brown color scheme.
The female and male flowers of arizarum are combined into an inflorescence-ear. They do not have a perianth, and in the staminate flowers there is a single stamen. The anther is rounded, crowned with a cylindrical filament. The length of the thread and the anther can be equal. There is a very unpleasant odor that attracts pollinating insects, mainly flies.
These insects get into the tube of the bedspread and have no way to get out of there. Since they are confused by the color of the surface, which consists of dark and light areas, they spend a lot of time inside, pollinating. The flowering process occurs twice: in the spring months (March-April) or from mid-autumn to the end of November.
After this process, the fruits ripen, which are berries with the shape of a hemisphere, having a flattened at the top. Their edge is raised, with some angularity. Inside, the number of seeds is small. Their outlines are ovoid.
The plant can be planted in flower beds and rocky gardens, rock gardens and rockeries. It is often used to decorate hedges or curbs.
Care for arizarum when grown outdoors and indoors
- Landing location and lighting. Since in nature the plant prefers to settle on the coast or under trees, then in the garden you should select a flower bed with partial shade or so that it is illuminated by morning or sunset rays of the sun. That is, an eastern or western location is recommended, you should not plant Arisarum in the bright sun, as the foliage may burn. When grown at home, a pot with a "mouse tail" is placed on the windowsills of east or west windows. If the plant will be in the southern room, then it will need shading. According to some reports, even in the northern location, this plant will be fine.
- Landing in open ground. When a decision is made to grow arizarum in flower beds, then it is required to plant it to a depth of no more than 10-15 cm, while a distance of up to 30 cm is maintained between the plants.
- Humidity and watering. This representative of the flora loves moisture, but a too moist substrate does not suit him, as it can provoke rotting of tubers. During the growing season (spring), the soil is watered abundantly, but when the dormant period for Arisarum begins, as well as with the arrival of autumn and winter, it is recommended to reduce it to moderate. As soon as the topsoil dries up, it is necessary to water it. The liquid that is glass in the pot holder must be removed immediately. The humidity of the air, during the period of activation of growth and flowering, also needs to be increased. Using a finely dispersed spray gun every day, spray the foliage of the "mouse tail". But if you do not want to perform such an operation every day, then the pot with a bush is placed in a deep pallet, on the bottom of which a small layer of pebbles (expanded clay) or chopped sphagnum moss is placed. A small amount of liquid is poured there, it evaporates and will increase the humidity. It is only important that the bottom of the pot does not touch the water level; for this, a saucer is placed on the layer of drainage material and a flowerpot can be installed on it.
- Home growing temperature. Since this exotic comes from the subtropics, it will need heat indicators to be in the range of 25-28 degrees.
- Fertilizing arizarum. In order for the foliage to grow healthy and the inflorescences are fully formed, it is recommended to carry out top dressing during the growing season. You can apply compost or liquid mineral products once every 14 days. For home cultivation, it is recommended to use a full mineral complex of fertilizers released in liquid form with the same frequency. Then the product can be diluted in water for irrigation.
- General advice on care. When growing in the garden, mulching must be performed, which will not only serve as protection against drying out of the soil, but will also prevent the roots from overcooling in frosts. Peat or compost acts as a layer of mulch. The plant does not need pruning, it is only necessary to remove leaves that have lost their decorative effect or discolored inflorescences over time.
- Winter hardiness. Naturally, this aspect is taken into account when growing a "mouse tail" in the open field, it can survive frost up to 23 degrees, but if you live in the middle lane, it is recommended to cover the bushes, otherwise frostbite is inevitable. Spruce branches, fallen leaves or a special material (agrofibre or agrospam) are used.
- Transplant soil. Arisarum prefers to grow in a light, well-drained substrate so that both moisture and water are available to the tubers. The soil should be rich in organic matter, fertile, you can use loam or sandy loam substrate. It is better that the acidity indicators are neutral, that is, in the pH range 6, 5-7, 5. You can place 2-3 seedlings in one container. After transplanting, the plants are watered abundantly.
- Choosing a pot for home growing. Since the root system of arizarum is not too deep, but is located superficially, do not use deep pots. Use wide, low containers. So that the substrate does not flood, holes are made in the bottom of the flowerpot to drain excess moisture. When planting, the first layer is a drainage layer, which is medium-fraction pebbles, expanded clay or clay shards.
Breeding rules for the herbaceous plant arizarum
To get a new exotic plant "mouse tail" when grown in the open field, it is recommended to divide the overgrown bush or to jig the lateral shoots from the tuberous rhizome.
When dividing the Arisarum bushes, the spring period is selected. The plant must be dug out with a garden fork, and the soil must be carefully removed from the root system as possible. Then, using a sharpened knife, it is recommended to divide the root system in such a way that each of the divisions has points of renewal and a sufficient number of shoots. But do not make the divisions too small, otherwise the arizarum will take longer to take root. After that, all sections must be carefully processed with charcoal or activated carbon powder. This will help to avoid the penetration of infection into the "wounds". Parts of the "mouse's tail" are planted in a prepared place in the garden, after which they are watered.
Jigging tubers should be done in the autumn, while planting should not be deeper than 10 cm. The distance can be maintained about 15-30 cm between plants.
Fight against diseases and pests of arizarum
The biggest problem when growing this exotic in the open field is aphid, spider mite and earwig. It is recommended to use folk remedies or insecticides to remove pests. Soap, oil or alcohol solutions can act as folk, among the chemicals they distinguish Aktara, Aktellik or Fitoverm (you can use others with a similar spectrum of action).
With too much moisture in the soil and high humidity, arizarum can cause rot problems. Here it is necessary to carry out treatment with fungicidal preparations.
When cultivating in room conditions, the following troubles may occur:
- The foliage begins to wrinkle, and the edge acquires a brown color, this can be triggered by increased dry air, drafts or too much temperature drop.
- The formation of whitish spots on the leaf plates occurs due to burns when the plant is in direct sunlight during the given hours.
Since Arisarum goes dormant in summer, its landing site will be empty.
Notes to flower growers about arizarum
It is customary to use the plant due to its unusual outlines in landscape design.
Attention
All parts of arizarum are highly poisonous. Because of this, it was entered into the register of "Plants containing potent, narcotic and poisonous substances." Therefore, when a robot with a "mouse tail" is used, it is recommended to wear gloves and then thoroughly clean your hands with soapy water. When grown indoors, it is necessary to put the exotic pot out of the reach of both small children and pets. It is curious that, despite the toxicity, the common Arizarum species (Arisarum vulgare) is used in the preparation of homeopathic medicines.
In 2004, this representative of the flora was depicted on a postage stamp related to Gibraltar.
Since the coverlet is colored in dark and light areas, which serve to disorient the insects that have got inside, scientists and botanists Knut Faergi (1909-2001) and L. van der Pei (1969) became interested in this effect. They decided to call this phenomenon in flowers - "optical trap".
Types of arizarum
- Arizarum ordinary (Arisarum vulgare). This variety is rarer than other species. Mainly grows on slopes where there is calcareous soil, as well as on the banks, can be found in groves of vineyards and olive trees, used to form hedges. The sheet-cover is short, painted in brown or brown-purple color, with a pointed tip at the top. The inflorescence is tubular in shape with longitudinal stripes of a pale greenish tone. There are several forms of this species, so there are differences in the description of the structure of the flower. Blossoming twice - from March to April, from October to late autumn. For the winter, you will need a shelter that is not winter hardy.
- Arizarum proboscide (Arisarum proboscideum). The native area of natural distribution falls on the territory of Europe (Mediterranean) and is found in the Apennines. Prefers moist soil and shady areas. The cover leaf has an elongated outline, its shade is olive or olive greenish. It is thanks to the shape of this plate that the plant received its specific name, since its length can reach 10-15 cm and resembles a curled proboscis. The color of the inflorescence (tube) is light or grayish-white, which serves to attract insects (flies) that conduct pollination. Flowering occurs in mid-spring. The species has been introduced into culture since the 80s of the XIX century. It is recommended to grow in the garden in a sunny flowerbed with a well-drained substrate. Shelter is needed for the winter.
- Arizarum flat-nosed (Arisarum simorrhinum Durieu). Herbaceous perennial with tuberous roots. The leaves resemble arrows, the petiole is often purple in tone. Pedicel is shorter in length than the petiole. In the inflorescence, the tube has a thickened outline at the bottom. Its color is whitish or light brown, there are a large number of dashes and red spots on the surface. The edge of the leaf covering the inflorescence has a reddish-purple tint. Cob-shaped inflorescence with 2-10 male flowers, concentrated in the upper part. They are adjacent to the bottom of the female buds. The flowering process goes from late autumn to February. Ripening of berries will go from the arrival of spring to May.
In nature, this species is common in the temperate climate of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as in the north-west of the African peninsula and the south of France. Prefers rocks and clay substrates, found under olive trees.
