View source for Biology:Zantedeschia

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the arum family Araceae}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image             = Zantedeschia - Calla Lilly2.jpg
| image_caption     = ''[[Biology:Zantedeschia elliottiana|Zantedeschia elliottiana]]''
| display_parents   = 2
| taxon             = Zantedeschia
| authority         = Spreng.<br><small>Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 3: 765 (1826), nom. cons.</small><ref name=POWO>{{cite POWO|id=331310-2|title=''Zantedeschia''|access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref>
| type_species      = ''Calla aethiopica'' L.<ref>{{Tropicos|access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref>
| synonyms =
*''Arodes'' Heist. ex Kuntze
*''Colocasia'' [[Biography:Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link|Link]]
*''Houttinia'' Neck.
*''Otosma'' Raf.
*''Pseudohomalomena'' A.D.Hawkes
*''Richardia'' Kunth
| synonyms_ref=<ref name=POWO/>
| subdivision_ranks = Species
}}

'''''Zantedeschia''''' {{IPAc-en|ˌ|z|æ|n|t|ᵻ|ˈ|d|ɛ|s|k|i|ə}}<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Brenzel|editor-first=Kathleen Norris|date=March 1995|title=Sunset Western Garden Book|edition=6|location=Menlo Park, CA|publisher=Sunset Publishing Corporation|pages=606&ndash;607|isbn=978-0376038500}}</ref> is a [[Biology:Genus|genus]] of eight species of herbaceous, [[Biology:Perennial plant|perennial]], [[Biology:Flowering plant|flowering plant]]s in the aroid family, [[Biology:Araceae|Araceae]], [[Earth:Native plant|native]] to southern [[Earth:Africa|Africa]] (from {{wipe|South Africa}} northeast to Malawi). The genus has been introduced, in some form, on every continent (minus [[Earth:Antarctica|Antarctica]]). 

Common names include '''arum lily''' for ''Z. aethiopica'', '''calla''' and '''calla lily''' for ''Z. elliottiana'' and ''Z. rehmannii''. However, members of this genus are not true [[Biology:Lilium|lilies]] (which belong to the family [[Biology:Liliaceae|Liliaceae]]), and the genera ''[[Biology:Arum|Arum]]'' and ''[[Biology:Calla|Calla]]'', although related, are distinct from ''Zantedeschia'', despite visual similarities. The colourful flowers and leaves, of both species and [[Biology:Cultivar|cultivar]]s, are greatly valued and commonly grown as ornamental and garden plants.

== Description ==
''Zantedeschia'' species are [[Biology:Rhizome|rhizomatous]], herbaceous, [[Biology:Perennial plant|perennial plant]]s with some species, e. g., ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'', growing to 1.2m tall, while ''Zantedeschia rehmannii'' does not exceed 60&nbsp;cm in height, growing in clumps or clusters.<ref name=mor>{{cite web |url = http://www.callacouncil.org.nz/e_books.asp?id=show&s=&pID=1&cID=160 |publisher = New Zealand Calla Council |title = The genus Zantedeschia. Botanical Classification and Morphology |orig-year = 1994 |year = 2006 |author = K.A. Funnell |access-date = 21 April 2014 |archive-date = 24 April 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140424142649/http://www.callacouncil.org.nz/e_books.asp?id=show&s=&pID=1&cID=160 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=PlantZAfrica/><br>
'''[[Biology:Root|Root]]s''': Contractile, emerging from the top of the tubers in Group II.<ref name=mor/><br>
'''[[Biology:Plant stem|Stem]]''': The underground portion is variously described as a thick underground stem, i. e., a [[Biology:Rhizome|rhizome]] or [[Biology:Tuber|tuber]].<ref name=dpr>{{cite book |year = 1915|title = Das Pflanzenreich: regni vegetablilis conspectus |volume = 64 IV |chapter = 58. Zantedeschia |editor=  Adolf Engler|location = Leipzig|publisher = Wilhelm Engelmann Verlag|chapter-url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/61950#page/549/mode/1up|language = la|access-date=27 April 2014|page=61}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Govaerts|first1=Rafaël|last2=Frodin|first2=David&nbsp;G|author-link2=David Gamman Frodin|date=25 July 2002|title=World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae)|url=https://shop.kew.org/world-checklist-bibliography-of-araceae-and-acoraceae|publisher=The Board of Trustees of the [[Organization:Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]]|isbn=9781842460368}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Podbielkowski|first= Zbigniew|title= Słownik roślin użytkowych| chapter= Kallijka etiopska| publisher= Państwowe Wydawnictwo Rolnicze i Leśne |place= Warszawa|year= 1989| page=138|isbn= 83-09-00256-4|language=pl}}</ref> While the literature is confusing as to the exact terminology, generally the ''Zantedeschia aethiopica''-''Zantedeschia odorata'' group (Group I) is considered to have rhizomes and the remaining species tubers.<ref name=mor/> The rhizomes are fleshy and branched.<ref name=Burrows>{{cite book|last=Burrows|first=George E.|title=Toxic Plants of North America|date=2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1118413395|pages=141–142|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dnemIU6mj-EC&pg=PA141|edition=2|author2=Ronald J. Tyrl |access-date=29 April 2014|chapter=Zantedeschia}}</ref> <br>
[[File:Zantedeschia leaf.jpg|thumb|Hastate leaf shape with maculation]]
[[File:Zantedeschia lanceolate leaf.jpg|thumb|Lanceolate leaf shape with undulate form]]
'''Leaves''': [[Biology:Petiole (botany)|Petioles]] are long, spongy, sheathed at the bases, and of varying lengths, from 15&nbsp;cm (''Zantedeschia rehmannii'') to 1.5 m (''Zantedeschia aethiopica''). The lamina is simple, elongated, and coriaceous with a variety of shapes, including triangular, oval (ovate), with or without a point (elliptic), heart-shaped (cordate), spear-shaped (hastate), lance-shaped (lanceolate), oblong, or circular (orbicular). 15–60&nbsp;cm in length, 5–25&nbsp;cm in width. The leaves are dark green in colour, feather-veined (pinnate), and may be erect or spreading with undulate margins. Some species exhibit transparent flecking ([[Biology:Glossary of botanical terms#maculate|maculation]]), and are therefore described as maculate, while others are immaculate. (see Table I, also New Zealand Calla Council Leaf Shape Images<ref name=mor/>)<ref name=mor/><ref name=PlantZAfrica/><ref name=dpr/> The leaves contain hydathodes that result in [[Biology:Guttation|guttation]].<ref name=PlantZAfrica/><ref name=Burrows/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table I: Descriptive features of the foliage of ''Zantedeschia'' species<ref name=mor/>
! style="background: #ccf"| Species
! style="background: #ccf"| Leaf shape
! style="background: #ccf"| Leaf size<ref name=dpr/>
! style="background: #ccf"| Maculation
|-
| ''Z. aethiopica''
| style="text-align:center" | Ovate-cordate or hastate
| style="text-align:center" | 15–45×10–25&nbsp;cm<ref name=dpr/>
| style="text-align:center" | rare
|-
| style="border-bottom: 3px solid grey"| ''Z. odorata''
| style="text-align:center; border-bottom: 3px solid grey" |Ovate to cordate
| style="text-align:center; border-bottom: 3px solid grey" |
| style="text-align:center; border-bottom: 3px solid grey" | none
|-
| ''Z. albomaculata''<br />subsp. ''albomaculata''
| style="text-align:center" |Oblong-hastate
| style="text-align:center" | 20–50×6–8&nbsp;cm<ref name=dpr/>
| style="text-align:center" |rare
|-
| ''Z. albomaculata''<br />subsp. ''macrocarpa''
| style="text-align:center" |Triangular-hastate
| style="text-align:center" | 18–20×5–7&nbsp;cm<ref name=dpr/>
| style="text-align:center" | sparse
|-
| ''Z. valida''
| style="text-align:center" |Ovate to cordate to ovate-orbicular-cordate
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" | none
|-
| ''Z. elliottiana''
| style="text-align:center" |Orbicular-ovate
| style="text-align:center" | 22×18&nbsp;cm<ref name=dpr/>
| style="text-align:center" | present
|-
| ''Z. jucunda''
| style="text-align:center" | Triangular-hastate
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" | dense
|-
| ''Z. pentlandii''
| style="text-align:center" |Oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" | seldom
|-
| ''Z. rehmannii''
| style="text-align:center" |Lanceolate
| style="text-align:center" | 20–30×3&nbsp;cm<ref name=dpr/>
| style="text-align:center" | none
|}
[[File:Calla lily.jpg|thumb|Inflorescence of ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'', showing the white spathe surrounding the central, yellow spadix]]
'''[[Biology:Inflorescence|Inflorescence]]''': Takes the form of a solitary [[Biology:Pseudanthium|pseudanthium]] (false flower), with a showy white or yellow spathe (a specialised petal like [[Biology:Bract|bract]]) shaped like a funnel with a yellow, central, finger-like [[Biology:Spadix (botany)|spadix]], which carries the true flowers. Both spathe and spadix are carried on or above the leaves on the fleshy flower stem. The shape of the spathe whose overlapping margins form the tubes varies from trumpet shaped (''Z. pentlandii'') to a tight tube with a tapering tip (''Z. rehmannii''). The spathe is initially green, but as it unfolds becomes coloured. This may be white as in ''Z. aethiopica'', but other species include yellow and pink. Cultivars have a wide variety of other spathe colours including orange and purple. Inside the spathe, the throat may be darkly coloured.<ref name=mor/><ref>{{cite book|date=2003|title=Botanica's Annuals & Perennials|location=Australia|publisher=Laurel Glen Publishing|page=938|isbn=978-1571456489}}</ref> The spathe acts to attract pollinators.<br>
'''Flowers''': ''Zantedeschia'' is monoecious, in which separate male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers ("imperfect" or "unisexual" flowers) are carried on the spadix. The flowers are small and non-blooming without a perianth. The male flowers contain two to three stamens fused to form a synandrium, and the female flowers have a single, compound pistil with three fused carpels and three locules.<ref name=mor/><ref name=dpr/><ref name=Burrows/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table II: Descriptive Features of the Inflorescences of ''Zantedeschia'' Species<ref name=mor/>
! style="background: #ccf"| Species
! style="background: #ccf"| Spathe colour
! style="background: #ccf"| Flowering period
! style="background: #ccf"| Throat darkened
|-
| ''Z. aethiopica''
| style="text-align:center" | white-pink
| style="text-align:center" | late winter - late spring
| style="text-align:center" | No
|-
| style="border-bottom: 3px solid grey"| ''Z. odorata''
| style="text-align:center; border-bottom: 3px solid grey" | white
| style="text-align:center; border-bottom: 3px solid grey" | late winter - late spring
| style="text-align:center; border-bottom: 3px solid grey" | No
|-
| ''Z. albomaculata''<br />subsp. ''albomaculata''
| style="text-align:center" | white-pale yellow-coral pink
| style="text-align:center" | late winter
| style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
| ''Z. albomaculata''<br />subsp. ''macrocarpa''
| style="text-align:center" | yellow
| style="text-align:center" | summer
| style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
| ''Z. valida''
| style="text-align:center" | cream
| style="text-align:center" | summer
| style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
| ''Z. elliottiana''
| style="text-align:center" | gold-yellow
| style="text-align:center" | summer
| style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
| ''Z. jucunda''
| style="text-align:center" | gold-yellow
| style="text-align:center" | summer
| style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
| ''Z. pentlandii''
| style="text-align:center" | lemon-chrome yellow
| style="text-align:center" | summer
| style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
| ''Z. rehmannii''
| style="text-align:center" | white-pink-maroon
| style="text-align:center" | summer
| style="text-align:center" | No
|}
'''[[Biology:Fruit|Fruit]]''': Beaked orange or red berries.<ref name=Burrows/>

== Taxonomy ==
''Zantedeschia'' is the sole genus in the tribe Zantedeschieae in a 1997 classification of the Araceae.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mayo|first1=Simon Joseph|last2=Bogner|first2=Joseph|last3=Boyce|first3=Peter Charles|date=1 September 1997|title=The Genera of Araceae|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280387316_The_Genera_of_Araceae|publisher=The Trustees of [[Organization:Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]]|page=232|isbn=978-1900347228|access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref>

=== Species ===
[[File:Zantedeschia albomaculata at the HUG.jpg|thumb|''Zantedeschia albomaculata'']]
[[File:Zantedeschia albumaculata LIH.png|thumb|''Zantedeschia albomaculata'', from ''L'Illustration Horticole'' v.7 (1860), by Charles Antoine Lemaire (1801-1871), and Ambroise Verschaffelt (1825-1886)]]
[[File:Zantedeschia - Calla Lilly1.jpg|thumb|''Zantedeschia elliottiana'']]
[[File:Pink Calla Lily Zantedeschia rehmannii 2000px.jpg|thumb|''Zantedeschia rehmannii'']]
Eight species are currently recognized:<ref name=POWO/>

* ''[[Biology:Zantedeschia aethiopica|Zantedeschia aethiopica]]'' <small>(L.) Spreng.</small> – giant white arum lily or common arum lily - South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho
* ''[[Biology:Zantedeschia albomaculata|Zantedeschia albomaculata]]'' <small>(Hook.) Baill.</small> – spotted arum lily - widespread from South Africa north to Nigeria and Tanzania 
* ''[[Biology:Zantedeschia elliottiana|Zantedeschia elliottiana]]'' <small>(W.Watson) Engl.</small> – yellow or golden arum lily - Mpumalanga Province of South Africa
* ''Zantedeschia jucunda'' <small>Letty</small> - Leolo Mountains of northern South Africa
* ''[[Biology:Zantedeschia odorata|Zantedeschia odorata]]'' <small>P.L.Perry</small> - Western Cape Province
* ''[[Biology:Zantedeschia pentlandii|Zantedeschia pentlandii]]'' <small>(R.Whyte ex W.Watson) Wittm.</small> - Mpumalanga Province of South Africa
* ''[[Biology:Zantedeschia rehmannii|Zantedeschia rehmannii]]'' <small>Engl.</small> – pink arum lily - South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique
* ''Zantedeschia valida'' <small>(Letty) Y.Singh</small> - KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

=== Etymology ===
The name of the genus was given as a tribute to Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi (1773–1846) by the German botanist Kurt Sprengel (1766–1833).

== Distribution and habitat ==
All species are endemic to central and southern [[Earth:Africa|Africa]], from Nigeria to Tanzania and {{wipe|South Africa}}. ''Z. aethiopica'' grows naturally in marshy areas and is only [[Biology:Deciduous|deciduous]] when water becomes scarce. It grows continuously when watered and fed regularly and can survive periods of minor frosts. ''Z. aethiopica'' is a very strong and sturdy plant, being able to grow in many soils and habitats, multiplying by rhizome-offsets; it is naturalised and regarded as a weed throughout much of the world. ''Z. odorata'' is a rare species, resembling ''Z. aethiopica'', but deciduous and smelling like [[Biology:Freesia|freesia]], endemic to a few localities in South Africa. ''Z. albomaculata'' is a widespread and variable species, growing from South Africa north to Kenya, varying in shades of white to cream and pink to orange-shades.  ''Z. jucunda'' and ''Z. pentlandii'' are rare species with large yellow showy flowers. ''Z. rehmannii'' is a  pink-flowered species with sword shaped leaves. ''Z. elliotiana'' is known from horticultural sources only and is probably of hybrid origin.

=== Introduction ===
''Zantedeschia'' was introduced to [[Earth:Europe|Europe]] in the seventeenth century as ''Z. aethiopica'',<ref name=PlantZAfrica>{{cite web|url=http://pza.sanbi.org/zantedeschia-aethiopica|title=''Zantedeschia aethiopica''|last=Aubrey|first=Alice|date=November 2001|website=PlantZAfrica|publisher=[[Organization:South African National Biodiversity Institute|South African National Biodiversity Institute]]|access-date=15 October 2023}}</ref> and is now widely naturalised<ref name=POWO/><ref name=grin>{{GRIN | ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'' | 42173 | access-date = 21 April 2014}}</ref> in [[Earth:Europe|Europe]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?continent=EUROPE&taxon_key=2868827&occurrence_status=present|title=''Zantedeschia aethiopica''|website=[[Organization:Global Biodiversity Information Facility|Global Biodiversity Information Facility]]|access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref> [[Earth:North America|North America]], Central America, [[Earth:South America|South America]], [[Earth:Oceania|Oceania]], and [[Place:Australasia|Australasia]]. In many places it is considered a dangerous [[Earth:Invasive species|invasive species]] that displaces native vegetation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Zantedeschia+aethiopica|title=''Zantedeschia aethiopica''|date=14 March 2008|website=Global Invasive Species Database|publisher=[[Organization:International Union for Conservation of Nature|International Union for Conservation of Nature]] |access-date=17 October 2023|quote=It grows in dense stands preventing the regeneration of local flora.}}</ref> In the South-West of Western Australia, ''Z. aethiopica'' was introduced for horticulture, but has become a widespread and conspicuous weed of watercourses, heath, and wet pastures to the extent that it has been declared a pest in Western Australia and landowners must control it and attempts to sell plants must be reported.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/declared-plants/arum-lily-declared-pest|title = Arum lily: Declared pest}}</ref>  ''Zantedeschia'' in [[Earth:North America|North America]] is primarily grown as ornamental cultivars in home gardens.<ref name=Burrows/>

=== Habitat ===
''Z. aethiopica'' grows naturally in marshy areas and is only [[Biology:Deciduous|deciduous]] when water becomes scarce. It grows continuously when watered and fed regularly and can survive periods of minor frosts. ''Z. aethiopica'' is a very strong and sturdy plant, being able to grow in many soils and habitats, multiplying by rhizome-offsets.

== Cultivation ==
All ''Zantedeschia'' produce large, showy flowers [[Biology:Spadix (botany)|spathes]] and are often grown both as ornamental plants and for cut flowers. ''Zantedeschia'' are relatively hardy plants, but some are more winter-hardy than others. In this regard there may be considered two groups, a hardy outdoor group with large white flowers (arum lilies) and less hardy group with white-spotted leaves and flowers in many colours (calla lilies), such as yellow, orange, pink and purple.<ref name=RHS>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/zantedeschia/growing-guide|title=How to grow ''Zantedeschia''|website=RHS|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref>

=== Hardy forms (arum lilies) ===
These include ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'' and ''Zantedeschia pentlandii'' and their cultivars. ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'' and some of its relatives can survive at minimum winter temperatures below -23&nbsp;°C (USDA Zone 6) and many others can be grown in even warmer areas where all the ground does not freeze (USDA Zone 7).<ref name=RHS/> ''Z. pentlandii'' hybrids include 'Millennium Gold'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com/Callalilymillenniumgoldbulbs.htm|title=Millennium Gold|website=Pacific Callas|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105063738/http://www.pacificcallas.com/Callalilymillenniumgoldbulbs.htm|archive-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>

=== Tender forms (calla lilies) ===
The more tender specimens are mainly cultivars (hybrids) of ''Zantedeschia elliotiana'' and ''Zantedeschia rehmannii'' (referred to as elliotiana or rehmannii cultivars or hybrids, or as e.g. ''Z.'' × ''rehmanii''), but also ''Zantedeschia albomaculata'' and ''Zantedeschia jucunda''. These less hardy forms can only survive winter temperatures to −12&nbsp;°C (Zones 8). This plant must be grown as tender [[Biology:Bulb|bulb]]s or houseplants in cooler areas. Species and hybrids between ''Z. elliotiana'', ''Z. jucunda'', ''Z. pentlandii'' and ''Z. rehmannii'' appear to have an optimum temperature for growth near 25&nbsp;°C, with growth being suppressed once daily average temperatures persist at 28&nbsp;°C.<ref name=RHS/><ref name=Funnell>{{cite book|author-last=Funnell|author-first=Keith Allen|editor-last1=De&nbsp;Hertogh|editor-first1=August&nbsp;A|editor-last2=Le&nbsp;Nard|editor-first2=Marcel|year=1993|chapter=36. ''Zantedeschia''|title=The Physiology of flower bulbs|location=Amsterdam|publisher=[[Company:Elsevier|Elsevier]] Science|pages=683&ndash;704|isbn=9780444874986}}</ref>
[[File:Zantedeschia Neon Amour 1.jpg|thumb|''Zantedeschia'' × ''rehmanii'' 'Neon Amour']]
[[File:Zantedeschia 'Lemon Drop'.JPG|thumb|''Zantedeschia elliotiana'' × ''maculata'' 'Lemon Drop']]
''Z. rehmannii'' hybrids include 'Amethyst',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com:80/CallalilyAmethystbulbs.htm|title=Amethyst|website=Pacific Callas|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611065509/http://www.pacificcallas.com:80/CallalilyAmethystbulbs.htm|archive-date=11 June 2015}}</ref> 'Crystal Blush'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com/Callalilycrystalblushbulbs.htm|title=Crystal Blush|website=Pacific Callas|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102518/http://www.pacificcallas.com/Callalilycrystalblushbulbs.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> and 'Neon Amour',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilyNeonAmourbulbs.htm|title=Neon Amour|website=Pacific Callas|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130434/http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilyNeonAmourbulbs.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> while an example of a ''Z. elliotiana'' × ''Z. rehmannii'' hybrid would be 'Blaze'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilyBlazebulbs.htm|title=Blaze|website=Pacific Callas|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114328/http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilyBlazebulbs.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> ''Z. elliotiana'' × ''Z. maculata'' hybrids include 'Lemon Drop'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilyLemonDropbulbs.htm|title=Lemon Drop|website=Pacific Callas|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924063053/http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilyLemonDropbulbs.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> ''Z. elliotiana'' hybrids include 'Solar Flare'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilySolarFlarebulbs.htm|title=Solar Flare|website=Pacific Callas|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192443/http://www.pacificcallas.com/CallalilySolarFlarebulbs.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

=== Seasonal grouping ===
Other classifications consider two groups based on their seasonal habits. ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'' and ''Zantedeschia odorata'' form one group ('''Group I''') typified by retaining their leaves in winter, and flowering from late winter to late spring, while the remaining species ('''Group II''') are in leaf from spring to late autumn shedding their leaves in winter (deciduous) and flower during the summer. ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'' may retain its leaves all year round (evergreen), otherwise from autumn to late summer, while ''Zantedeschia odorata'' retains its leaves from late winter to late spring. The two groups also vary according to the arrangement of the male and female organs. In the first group they are arranged  together in the lower part of the [[Biology:Spadix (botany)|spadix]], whereas in the latter they are separate, with the female at the base. The ''Z. aethiopica'' group also have a fruit that turns soft and orange, whereas the other retains a firm green fruit.<ref name=mor/>

== Toxicity ==
''Zantedeschia'' shares the general properties of the family [[Biology:Araceae|Araceae]] in causing contact irritation. ''Zantedeschia'' species are also poisonous due to the presence of [[Chemistry:Calcium oxalate|calcium oxalate]] crystals in the form of raphides. All parts of the plant are poisonous, typically producing local irritation or a burning sensation in the mouth and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Slaughter|first1=Robin&nbsp;J|last2=Beasley|first2=D&nbsp;Michael&nbsp;G|last3=Lambie|first3=Bruce&nbsp;S|last4=Wilkins|first4=Gerard&nbsp;T|last5=Schep|first5=Leo&nbsp;J|date=14 December 2012|title=Poisonous plants in New Zealand: a review of those that are most commonly enquired about to the National Poisons Centre|url=https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/poisonous-plants-in-new-zealand-a-review-of-those-most-commonly-enquired-about-to-the-national-poisons-centre|journal=The New Zealand Medical Journal|volume=125|issue=1367|pages=93&ndash;96|issn=1175 8716|pmid=23321887|access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Sheets/herbs/H%20Arum%20lily.htm |title=Arum or calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica ) |access-date=2007-11-18 |author=Miles, Jackie |date=2002-09-12 |work=South Coast Weeds |publisher=Eurobodalla Shire Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729131721/http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Sheets/herbs/H%20Arum%20lily.htm |archive-date=2012-07-29 }}</ref> However leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten.<ref name=Burrows/><ref>{{PFAF|Zantedeschia aethiopica|access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref>

== Uses ==
[[File:Wedding bouquet.jpg|thumb|Zantedeschia bridal bouquet with mixed flowers]]
Extensive commercial production of Zantedeschia for cut flowers and/or planting material occurs in California, Colombia, New Zealand and Kenya.<ref name=Funnell/>  Plant breeders in California and New Zealand continue to produce an extensive range of new hybrid cultivars. The so-called white calla derived from ''Z. aethiopica''. All varieties with flowers with shades of yellow, orange, red, purple are mainly derived from ''Z. albomaculata'', ''Z. pentlandii'', ''Z. elliottiana'' and ''Z. rehmanni''.

== Culture ==
Zantedeschia has often been used in paintings and is featured in many of Diego Rivera's works of art (see ''The Flower Vendor'', amongst others). It was a favourite subject of the painter Georgia O'Keeffe.

== References ==
{{Reflist|3}}

== External links ==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificcallas.com/californiacallas.htm|title=California Callas|website=Pacific Callas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191947/http://www.pacificcallas.com/californiacallas.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=17 October 2023}}
*{{GRIN}}
*{{cite web|url=http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/198500186.html|title=''Zantedeschia aethiopica''|date=11 October 2023|website=Ecology & Evolutionary Biology|publisher=[[Organization:University of Connecticut|University of Connecticut]]|access-date=17 October 2023}}
*{{cite web|url=http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/198502045.html|title=''Zantedeschia elliottiana''|date=18 May 2017|website=Ecology & Evolutionary Biology|publisher=[[Organization:University of Connecticut|University of Connecticut]]|access-date=17 October 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521215650/http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu:80/198502045.html|archive-date=21 May 2017}}
*{{cite thesis|last=Snijder|first=Ronald Christiaan|title=Genetics of ''Erwinia'' resistance in ''Zantedeschia'': impact of plastome-genome incompatibility|date=13 February 2004|degree=PhD|publisher=Wageningen University & Research|url=https://www.liliumbreeding.nl/Genetics%20of%20Erwinia%20resistance%20in%20Zantedeschia%20Ronald%20Snijder.pdf|isbn=90-5808-975-4}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q147043}}

[[Category:Zantedeschia| ]]
[[Category:Araceae genera]]

{{Sourceattribution|Zantedeschia}}