[John]

I like Aroids and Arum are particularly interesting especially when they have attractive leaves. Arum pictum is just about possible in some places in the UK though perhaps borderline for hardiness. I have grown it under glass for many years and have selected some seedlings, this one is perhaps comparable to A. p 'Primrose Warburg'.

[Alisdair]

Arum pictum is of course a Mediterranean plant, native to several of the islands, so grows well in mediterranean climates. Much more widely spread around the Mediterranean, the common Arum italicum often has really attractive marbling too.

[ezeiza]

Hans A. has the most stunning reticulated form in the world. What an extrordinary plant.

Have no idea how common this great form is in the wild.

[John J]

The Arum in the photo appeared in my 'field' every year and I was unable to identify it until the Red Data Book of Cyprus was published in 2007. Lo and behold, there was a photo of what looked exceedingly like my plant. However, the only 2 locations in which it had been recorded at that time were in the north and north-west of the island whereas I lived way down in the south. Also they were situated between 250-600m and I'm at 30-40m. I consulted Georgios Hadjikyriakos, an expert on Cyprus flora, and he confirmed from his photographic records and herbarium specimens that my plant was indeed the rare Arum sintenisii. A sintenisii is sweet-scented and generally grows in olive groves and moist places. Mine is in the shade of a mandarin tree and benefits from the irrigation supplied to the tree. How this single individual arrived in this area is a complete mystery.

[Alisdair]

What an amazing piece of luck to have such a splendid rarity growing under your nose, John! Fascinating.

[John J]

My Arum sintenisii is back and flowering. This Arum appeared in one spot in our field every year and I was unable to identify it. Unlike many arums it has a sweet scent. Then the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus was published and to my amazement there was what appeared to be my Arum. It fit in every respect apart from location. Arum sintenisii is a rare Cyprus endemic that had only been identified in 2 places, both in the north-west of the island (I live in the deep south), and at altitudes between 250-600 metres (I'm at around 30/40 metres). I called in the expert, Georgios Hadjikyriakou, and he confirmed it as Arum sintenisii from his vast collection of photos and his personal herbarium specimens. It seems the plant likes moist conditions and its current position is in shade between a mature lemon and a smaller mandarin where it can benefit from the irrigation to both. It dies back every year and it is always a 'fingers crossed' time before it reappears each spring. It's a complete mystery as to how it got here. It has never produced a fruiting body and I have yet to pluck up the courage to attempt to divide it.

[John J]

I apologise if I'm getting boring about this plant but I'm always 'chuffed' when it appears every year. Especially this year as I finally plucked up enough courage last year to attempt to divide it, and it worked!! We now have 3 new clumps as well as the original.

[Jill S]

Think I'd be pretty chuffed as well, 'well done'

[oron peri]

John,
Congratulations, it is a rare beauty!
Hope they will produce seeds too

[Trevor Australis]

In THE PLANTSMAN a while back there was an extensive survey of the numerous named forms of Arum italicum available in the UK and Europe. While some were certainly quite 'spekky' (spectacular) I recall the concluding comments were that many were not very stable variations needing roguing to maintain their 'purity'. tn

[Alisdair]

Wonderful to see a plant that is both so rare and so beautiful growing really well, John!

[John]

John your A. sintenisii is spectacular. Perhaps there are a few more tiny popualtions which have been over looked. Does it set seed, because if it does you should be able to bulk up the numbers quite quickly.
I have grown many from seed over the years and it is also a good way to select more interesting forms, or at least in those with marked foliage. Here's some babies off my A. pictum where I am trying to select out more striking leaf forms. I may have posted these elsewhere under a different topic?

[John J]

I think that you are right, John, the Forestry Dept have been investigating possible new sites over the last few years, some with positive results, I believe. So far I haven't found a fruiting body but I did eventually pluck up enough courage to attempt a division. I'm relieved to say that it was successful and I now have 5/6 new plants. I was planning to take one to Athens this year for Sally to try at Sparoza, also I've offered to take one for our bulb specialist, Oron, if he's going to be there. That's all so it's no good anyone else asking for one, begging and bribery won't work either!

[John]

Getting some clonal material into safe hands is a great start and to others who will eventually distribute it further. You will soon have your own colony anyway!
I have 2 clones of Arum creticum, Turkish amd Simi plants flowering now and have been out for ages due to our cold spell. Also A. purpureospathum has been out for ages. All in a frost free greenhouse. No sign of them flowering outside yet!

[Trevor Australis]

Does anyone grow Arum idaeum which looks rather attractive in Wilson's FIELD GUIDE TO THE BULBS OF GREECE? tn