Pronunciation: [ˈaɹəm] (IPA) 
The word "arum" is spelled with three letters and pronounced as /ˈær.əm/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first two letters, "ar", are pronounced with an open-mid front unrounded vowel sound, similar to the 'a' in 'cat'. The last letter, "um", is pronounced with a schwa sound, like the first syllable in 'sofa'. The spelling of "arum" is a good example of how the English language sometimes combines letters to create unique sounds.
Arum is a noun that refers to a genus of plants in the family Araceae, commonly known as arums or aroids. This group of flowering plants consists of over 100 different species, characterized by their distinctive arrow-shaped leaves and often showy flowers. Arums are native to various regions all around the world, including Europe, Asia, and North America.
These plants are perennials and typically grow in moist or marshy environments, such as wetlands, along rivers, or in shaded woodland areas. The leaves of arum plants are usually large and heart-shaped, often with long petioles. They can vary in color, ranging from deep green to variegated patterns.
What sets arums apart is their unique flower structure. The flowers emerge on a spadix, which is a fleshy spike surrounded by a modified leaf called a spathe. The spathe can have various colors, including white, yellow, green, or purple, and serves to attract pollinators like beetles or flies. Some arum species also emit a foul odor to further entice these insects.
In terms of symbolism, arums are associated with elegance, beauty, and rebirth. They are often grown as ornamental plants in gardens or used as cut flowers in floral arrangements. However, it's worth noting that some arums can be toxic if ingested, so caution should be exercised when handling or growing them.
The root of Arum maculatum, spotted arum, adder's root, a plant of southern Europe; employed in domestic medicine as a tonic in chlorosis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The wake-robin found in many British woods-a plant esteemed for its medicinal qualities.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "arum" comes from the Latin term "arum" or "arun", which originated from the Ancient Greek term "aron". The Greek term was derived from the Hebrew word "aron", which is used to refer to a vessel or container. In the context of the plant, "arum" is believed to be named after the structure of its inflorescence, which resembles a container or vessel.
