Arisaema biradiatifoliatum Kitam.; Arisaema kelung-insulare Hayata; Arisaema vituperatum Schott.

बीर बाँको Bir Banko (Nepali).

Perennial herbs up to 1 m. Corms bulbous. Leaf solitary, rarely 2, petioles green; leaf blade whorled, radiating outwards from a central point, margin entire; leaflets 11–20, equal, sessile, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale green, narrowly elliptic, base cuneate, apex tapering into a thread-like tail. Peduncles green or dark purple, shorter than petiole, 15–20 cm. Spathe purple-brown with delicate green and white stripes; tube cylindric, ca. 5 cm, upper portion narrower than basal portion; limb ovate, narrower than tube, base not auriculate, apex long acuminate and caudate. Spadix shorter than spathe, whitish, club-shaped, female zone 1-2 cm, male zone 1.5–2 cm; appendix green, erect, apex clavate truncate.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1800–3300 m.

Ecology: Damp shady pine and mixed forests, shrubberies and grassy slopes.

Flowering: May–July. Fruiting: June–August.

Arum costatum Wall., Tent. Fl. Napal. 1: t. 19 (1824).

काल Kal (Nepali).

Perennial herbs up to 50 cm. Corms depressed globose. Leaf solitary, petioles green or light purple, 20–45 cm; leaf blade tri-foliate, radiating outwards from a peripheral point, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sub-sessile, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale green, dense parallely arranged veins visible on both the surfaces, central leaflet elliptic or oblong, lateral leaflets asymmetrically elliptic, base rounded (central leaflet) or auriculate (lateral leaflets), inner base of lateral leaflets narrowly cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncles green or brown, shorter than the petiole, 13–25 cm. Spathe dark purple, with white vertical stripes; tube cylindric, 5–9 cm, slightly costate or smooth inside; limb incurved, narrowly ovate-oblong, apex acuminate with a filiform tail. Spadix longer than spathe, female zone 2–3 cm, male zone 2–3 cm; appendix dark purple, pendulous from spathe, apex tapering into a long filiform tail.

Distribution: Nepal and Tibetan Plateau.

Altitudinal range: 1900–2800 m.

Ecology: Grasslands in forest areas.

Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: July–August.

Arum echinatum Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 30 (1831).

Perennial herbs up to 30 cm. Corms depressed, sub-globose. Leaf solitary, petioles green or dark brown, ca. 30 cm; leaf blade whorled, radiating outwards from a central point, margin entire; leaflets 6–11, equal, sessile, upper surface green, lower surface bluish-green, narrow elliptical or oblanceolate, base attenuate, apex long acuminate, often caudate with a short filiform tail. Peduncles green, substantially shorter than petiole, ca. 16 cm. Spathe green with vertical white stripes; tube cylindric, 3–7 cm, slightly recurved at neck, limb incurved, ovate, base slightly curved outside, not auriculate at base, apex long caudate with filiform tail. Spadix much shorter than spathe, female zone 1.5–2.5 cm, male zone 1.5–3 cm; appendix green, cylindric, base abruptly narrowed and stipitate, apex obtuse and echinate.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 2600–3100 m.

Ecology: Forest slopes.

Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–August.

Arum erubescens Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 30 (1831).

रकाया बाँको Rakaya banko (Nepali).

Perennial herbs up to 40 cm. Corms depressed globose. Leaf solitary, rarely 2, petioles green or purplish white with dark brown stripes, 30–60 cm; leaf blade whorled, radiating outwards from a central point, margin entire; leaflets 18–23, equal, sessile, upper surface green, lower surface dull green, linear or narrowly elliptic, base cuneate, apex long acuminate and caudate with a filiform tail. Peduncles green, shorter than petiole, 20–30 cm. Spathe green or brown with white stripes; tube cylindric, 6–7 × ca. 1.5 cm, auriculate and recurved at neck; limb green, triangular-ovate, margin purple, apex acuminate with a long filiform tail. Spadix shorter than spathe, just exceeding tube, female zone 3–4 cm, male zone 4–5 cm; appendix pale green, erect, cylindric, base elongated ovoid, apex rounded.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma E Asia and SE Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1900–2600 m.

Ecology: Pinus forests, mixed forests, thickets, grassy slopes, lakesides, between rocks.

Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: July–August.

Perennial herbs, 60–120 cm. Corms depressed globose. Leaf solitary, petioles green or dark purple, 20–50 cm; leaf blade whorled, radiating outwards from a central point, margin undulate; leaflets 7–13, equal, sessile, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale green, oblanceolate, base cuneate, apex caudate acuminate. Peduncles green or purple, considerably shorter than petiole, 5–20 cm. Spathe purple with white vertical stripes, 2–7 X 1.2–2 cm; tube pale green or purple, narrowed at neck; limb ascending, ovate-lanceolate, convolute, apex long caudate.  Spadix shorter than spathe, invisible from outside, female zone 1.5–2 cm, male zone 2–3 cm; appendix absent, or broadly cylindric.

Distribution: Nepal and Tibetan Plateau.

Altitudinal range: 2400–2800 m.

Ecology: Forests on slopes, grasslands between forests.

Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–September.

Arum flavum Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 157(1775); Arisaema abbreviatum Schott

भाले बाँको Bhale banko, तिन्चु Tinchu (Nepali).

Perennial herbs, 10–30 cm. Corms sub-globose. Leaves 1 or 2, petioles green or purple, 15–30 cm; leaf blade pedate, margin entire; leaflets 5–11(–15), unequal, sessile, upper surface green, lower surface bluish green, central leaflet oblanceolate, lateral leaflets oblanceolate or obovate, smaller than the central leaflet, gradually decreasing to outer end, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncles green, much shorter than petiole, 6–18 cm. Spathe smallest in the genus; tube yellowish green with dark purple neck, ovoid to globose, ca. 5 cm; limb yellow or green, dark purple inside, oblong-ovate, apex acuminate, slightly incurved. Spadix shorter than spathe, female zone 1–1.5 cm, male zone 1–2 cm; appendix yellow-green, ellipsoid, apex rounded.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, SW Asia; Africa.

Altitudinal range: 2200–4400 m.

Ecology: Rocky slopes, thickets, croplands.

Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–September.

Arisaema hookeri Schott; Arisaema hookerianum Schott.

ढोकायो साग Dhokayo sag (Nepali).

Perennial herbs, 30–60 cm. Corms globose. Leaves 2, petioles dark green with dark purple spots; leaf blade tri-foliate, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sub-sessile, upper surface dark green, slightly wrinkled with prominent dark veins on the lower surface, central leaflet rhomboidal or orbicular, lateral leaflets asymmetrically ovate, smaller than the central leaflet, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncles green or brown, much shorter than petiole, rising only few centimeters above the ground, 6–20 cm. Spathe large up to 20 cm, borne at ground level under leaves; tube green with deep purple stripes, elongated, cylindric, limb green with dark purple-brown stripes, oblong lanceolate, hooded, apex caudate acuminate. Spadix longer than spathe, female zone 1–2 cm, male zone 1.5–2.5 cm; appendix dark purple, apex abruptly narrowed to a filiform tail.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau.

Altitudinal range: 2400–3000 m.

Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–August.

Arisaema stracheyanum Schott.

Perennial herbs up to 50 cm. Corms depressed globose. Leaves 1 or 2, petioles green; leaf blade tri-foliate, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sessile, upper surface green, lower surface light green, central leaflet symmetrically ovate or rhombic, lateral leaflets asymmetrically ovate or rhombic, smaller than the central leaflet, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncles green, shorter than petiole, 10–25 cm. Spathe light green with faint white lines; tube broadly cylindric, 3–5 cm, obliquely truncate; limb yellowish green or green, apex acuminate caudate tapering into a tail. Spadix longer than spathe, female zone 1–2 cm, male zone 1.5–2 cm; appendix dark purple, sigmoid and pendulous in distal part, apex narrowly flagellate.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 2600–3400 m.

Ecology: Mountain slopes, grassy places.

Flowering: May–July. Fruiting: July–September.

Arisaema cornutum Schott; Arisaema exile Schott.

बाँको Banko (Nepali).

Perennial herbs up to 60 cm. Corms sub-globose. Leaves 1 or 2, petioles pale green, smooth, without any stripes, 20–50 cm; leaf blade palmate, margin entire; leaflets usually 5, rarely up to 9, unequal, sessile, upper surface green, lower surface pale green, central leaflet oblong or lanceolate, larger than lateral leaflets, lateral leaflets lanceolate, base attenuate, apex acuminate. Peduncles pale green, as long as petiole, 20–50 cm. Spathe green with widely spaced white stripes; tube cylindric with obliquely truncate neck, not recurved, 2.5–6.5 cm; limb ovate to narrowly ovate, apex acuminate ascending into filiform tail. Spadix longer than spathe, female zone 2–3 cm, male zone 2–3 cm; appendix green at basal end, purple at distal end, horizontal to decurved, tapering, base swollen, truncate, shortly stipitate, apex tapering into a decurved tail.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, S Asia and SW Asia.

Altitudinal range: 3000–4300 m.

Ecology: Coniferous forests, open grassy places in forests, Juniperus or Rhododendron thickets, forest margins.

Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: July–August.

Arum nepenthoides Wall., Tent. Fl. Napal.: 26 (1824); Arisaema ochraceum Schott.

टुवा Tuwa (Nepali).

Perennial herbs, 10–35 cm. Corms depressed globose. Leaves 1 or 2, petioles greenish or faint yellowish with dark brown irregular spots; leaf blade digitate, margin undulating; leaflets 5, rarely 7, unequal, sessile, upper surface shiny dark green, lower surface dull green, central leaflet oblanceolate, larger than lateral leaflets, lateral leaflets obliquely lanceolate, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncles greenish or faint yellowish with dark brown irregular spots, shorter or longer than the petiole. Spathe yellowish with brownish or dark brown spots; tube cylindric with broadly auriculate neck, 3–8 cm, auricles semi-orbicular; limb yellowish with numerous black spots, ovate, apex acuminate. Spadix shorter than spathe, female zone 2–3 cm, male zone 1–2 cm; appendix whitish green, erect, cylindric, base truncate, slightly narrow in middle, apex obtuse.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, S Asia and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 2100–3600 m.

Ecology: Forest banks and margins.

Flowering: March–May. Fruiting: June–August.

Arisaema intermedium var. propinquum (Schott) Engl.; Arisaema sikkimense Stapf ex Chatterjee; Arisaema wallichianum Hook.f.

Perennial herbs up to 30 cm. Corms sub-globose. Leaves 2, petioles with dark vertical stripes; leaf blade tri-foliate, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sub-sessile with dark brown margin, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale green, central leaflet rhomboidally orbicular, lateral leaflets asymmetrically ovate, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncles dark purple, shorter than petiole, 7.5–23.5 cm. Spathe dark brownish-purple; tube cylindric with yellowish or greenish stripes, 2.5–7 cm; limb oblong lanceolate, apex caudate acuminate. Spadix longer than spathe, female zone 2–3 cm, male zone 2–3 cm; appendix dark purple, smooth with dilated lobulated base, apex tapering into a very long filiform tail.

 Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau.

Altitudinal range: 2500–3800 m.

Ecology: Forest margin, open shrubberies, grasslands.

Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–August.

Arum speciosum Wall., Tent. Fl. Napal.: 29. (1824).

बीष झार्ने Bish jharne (Nepali).

Key to Varieties

1a Spadix appendix smooth, slender and not enlarged. Flowers early (before May) ………………………………………….……………………..…… 1. A. speciosum var. speciosum

b Spadix appendix rough and rugose, conspicuously enlarged and thickened. Flowers much later (after June) ……………………………….. 2. A. speciosum var. mirabile

1. Arisaema speciosum var. speciosum (Wall.) Mart., Melet. Bot. 1:17 (1832).

Arisaema eminens Schott; Arisaema gracilentum Brugg.; Arisaema speciosum var. eminens (Schott) Engl.; Arisaema speciosum var. truncatum C.E.C.Fisch.

Perennial herbs, 10–25 cm. Rhizomes cylindric. Leaf solitary, petioles pale green, not spotted; leaf blade tri-foliate, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sub-sessile, upper surface shiny green with reddish or brownish margin, lower surface pale green, central leaflets ovate or oblong, base cuneate, apex acute to acuminate, lateral leaflets asymmetrically oblong-lanceolate, typically larger than the central leaflet, base conspicuously asymmetrical, inner side cuneate, outer side cordate, apex acuminate. Peduncles whitish with brown patches, much shorter than petiole, 3–10 cm. Spathe dark purple, with vertical white stripes; tube cylindric, 4–10 cm, margins obliquely truncate; limb arching over spadix, oblanceolate; apex long acuminate. Spadix longer than the spathe, female zone 1–2 cm, male zone 2–3 cm; appendix pink to dark purple, smooth, cylindric, slender, apex tapering into a long filiform tail distally.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 2400–2800 m.

Ecology: Broad-leaved forests, moist forest floor.

Flowering: April–May. Fruiting: May–June.

2. Arisaema speciosum var. mirabile (Schott) Engl., Monogr. Phan. 2: 540 (1879).

Arisaema mirabile Schott, Oesterr. Bot. Z. 7: 366 (1857).

Perennial herbs, 10–25 cm. Rhizomes cylindric. Leaf solitary, petioles pale green, not spotted; leaf blade tri-foliate, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sub-sessile, upper surface shiny green with reddish or brownish margin, lower surface pale green, central leaflet ovate or oblong, base cuneate, apex acute to acuminate, lateral leaflets asymmetrically oblong-lanceolate, typically larger than the central leaflet, base conspicuously asymmetrical, inner side cuneate, outer side cordate, apex acuminate. Peduncles whitish with brown patches, much shorter than petiole, 3–10 cm. Spathe dark purple, with vertical white stripes; tube cylindric, margins obliquely truncate; limb arching over spadix, oblanceolate, apex long acuminate. Spadix longer than the spathe, female zone 1–2 cm, male zone 2–3 cm; appendix light pink to purple, rugose, conspicuously enlarged and thickened, conic, apex tapering into a long filiform tail distally.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 2200–2800 m.

Ecology: Broad-leaved forests, moist forest floor.

Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: July–August.

Arum tortuosum Wall., Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 10. (1831); Arisaema helleborifolium Schott; AArisaema tortuosum var. curvatum (Roxb.) Engl.

बीर बाँको Bir banko (Nepali).

Perennial herbs up to 60 cm. Corms depressed globose. Leaves (1 -)2 or 3, petioles green with dark purple spots; leaf blade pedate, margin entire, 30–90 cm; leaflets 7–13, unequal, shortly petiolulate or sessile, variously shaped, upper surface dark green, lower surface green, central leaflet oblong to lanceolate, larger than lateral leaflets, lateral leaflets gradually smaller to outermost, base cuneate, apex abruptly acuminate. Peduncles green, longer than petiole, usually exceeding leaves, 60–120 cm. Spathe light green or yellowish; tube cylindric or funnel shaped, 1.5–4.5 cm, obliquely truncate at neck; limb ovate or oblong, slightly incurved, apex shortly acuminate. Spadix longer than spathe, female zone 2–4 cm, male zone 2–3 cm; appendix greenish or dark purple, ascending, sigmoid, apex acute.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, S Asia and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1300–2900 m.

Ecology: Rocky slopes, roadside, stream banks, especially in disturbed areas.

Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–September.

Arisaema verrucosum var. utile (Hook.f. ex Schott) Pradhan

ढोकायो Dhokayo, तिनपाते Tinpate (Nepali).

Perennial herbs up to 50 cm. Corms depressed globose with small tubercles. Leaf solitary, petioles green with brown blotches; leaf blade tri-foliate, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sessile or sub-sessile, upper surface green with thin reddish or brownish margin, lower surface pale green, central leaflet rhombic or ovate, base cuneate, apex acuminate, lateral leaflets asymmetrically ovate, base rounded to truncate, apex acuminate. Peduncles green or dark purple with white spots, shorter than petiole, 18–22 cm. Spathe brownish with vertical white stripes; tube cylindric, slightly recurved at neck, 4–5 X 1.5–2 cm; limb strongly incurved, dark purple with white vertical lines, obovate, apex acuminate. Spadix longer than the spathe, female zone 3–6 cm, male zone 1.5–2 cm; appendix brown, base truncate and stipitate, apex flagelliform.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 2800–3100 m.

Ecology: Forest margins.

Flowering: May–June. Fruiting: July–September.

Perennial herbs, 15–20 cm. Corms depressed globose. Leaf solitary, petioles green, smooth; leaf blade tri-foliate, margin entire; leaflets 3, unequal, sub-sessile, upper surface green with bluish margin, lower surface green, central leaflet broadly obovate or rhombic, base cuneate, apex acuminate or rounded, lateral leaflets ovate or rhombic, slightly asymmetrical, conspicuously larger than the central leaflet, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncles green, shorter than petiole, 7–10 cm. Spathe dark purple with vertical white stripes; tube cylindric, slightly recurved, 4.5–5 X 1.5–2 cm; limb purple with white reticulate striations, strongly dilated, reniform or sub-cordate, apex rounded with a long tubular tail. Spadix longer than the spathe, female zone 1–2 cm, male zone 1.5–2 cm; appendix purple, base truncate and stipitate, apex flagellate, recurved distally following spathe limb.

Distribution: Nepal and Tibetan Plateau.

Altitudinal range: 3500–3700 m.

Ecology: Thickets, grasslands on mountain slopes.

Flowering:  June–July. Fruiting: July–August.