Aroid

/ˈæroɪd/ noun

Definition

A plant of the arum family (Araceae), which includes common houseplants like philodendrons and peace lilies.

Etymology

From 'arum' (the type plant, from Greek 'aron') plus the suffix '-oid' (meaning 'resembling'). The suffix '-oid' comes from Greek 'eidos' meaning 'form' or 'shape,' creating a name for the whole family of arum-like plants.

Kelly Says

The aroid family is one of the most successful plant groups on Earth—over 3,600 species—and they're masters of chemical and visual trickery: some heat themselves to smell like rotting flesh to attract flies, fooling insects into pollinating them.

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