Biarum

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A curious genus of Aroids spread from Portugal and Morocco as far east as Afghanistan. They are related to Arum but Biarum leaves lack lobes at the base and so are spear-shaped; Arum has lobed, arrow-head shaped leaves. Biarum have whitish berries each with one seed, Arum have 2-6 seeds per red berry.

Most are autumn flowering but they can bloom in April (B. spruneri), July (B. ditschianum), and October (B. davisii and B. marmarisense). The inflorescence is similar to Arum but is on a short stem, close to ground level. Some are pungently smelly for the first day after opening when the female flowers are fertile. By the second day the smell eases and the male flowers become fertile. Some are unscented, a few are delightfully perfumed.

All of the species that we offer follow a Mediterranean pattern of growth. All are dormant over the summer months. They can be easily grown in a soil-based compost. Keep dry in summer, growth starts in autumn. Most don't like cold. but tenuifolium can be grown outside in favourable parts of the UK. We have overwintered marmarisense down to -10°C without harm, but in general I prefer pots in a frost-free glasshouse, or bedded out in the same house.

Order from Autumn list only.

Biarum arundanum

Rounded leaves on short stalks. There is also a short stalk below the inflorescence which is deep purple-black, as is the protruding spadix. At the base of the spadix, the lower sterile flowers in the species are supposed to be in whorls.

This is a summer-flowering species which is proving to be a good bulb-frame subject. It can also be grown in a pot and even outside in the UK in a south-facing, sunny, well drained spot.

A Spanish species from the area around Ronda, in the south of the country, the home of many, fabulous endemic plants.

For those interested it appears than the species is normally diploid with 2n=22.


Biarum arundanumbiaaruaru	£9.50

Biarum davisii

Tiny pink-spickled, white, urn-like spathes appear in autumn. These sit at ground level. The small, spear-shaped leaves follow.

A neat and tidy dwarf species for pot culture under frost-free glass. It does well in a loam-based compost with good drainage. This is the true dwarf plant, propagated from stock originally traceable to Crete. At certain temperatures is sweetly scented.

Picture © A.M.D. Hoog used with permission and thanks


Biarum davisiibiadavdav	£7.50
Large view

Biarum ditschianum

This is a new species described only in 1989. The purple-red spathes are short, and are in fact reduced to a rim more or less at ground level with a huge, very fat, golden spadix sticking up from the centre. This is surely the ultimate expression of evolution in Biarum and it is totally different to all other species. In fact it really needs to be seen to be believed.

These are cultivated tubers raised from seed of the type collection in Turkey, where the plant is found in only one locality, growing in humus-filled sink holes in limestone pavements.


Biarum ditschianumbiaditdit	£12.50
Tubers about 1.5cm in diameter.

Biarum marmarisense

Small white to pale caramel spathes, spotted and glazed with fawn, minutely dotted all over with pink, these are sweetly scented.

Like a larger, Turkish variant of B. davisii. It is similar in many ways but can be separated botanically and is easily distinguished by the more horticulturally minded as it has both a larger spathe and a much narrower spadix. Significantly, it is considered easier to grow by many.

Flowering from September onwards. Good in a pan in the alpine house but remarkably hardy outside even in continental Europe.


Biarum marmarisensebiamarmar	£5.50
Large view