Plant of the day is Arum megobrebi

Plant of the day is Arum megobrebi or ???

Why ???.  Because it is pretty new in the relative sense of plant discoveries.  Apparently it was discovered in 1990 (maybe a few years earlier even) but only fairly recently described in detail.  This is a pretty unique thing in the plant world these days, really.  And it is a fascinating looking plant.  It comes from the mountainous region dividing Georgia (the country) and Turkey.  The name is megobrebi derives from the Georgian word for friend, a nod to the friendship between the botanical gardens of Tblissi, Munich, and Bonn.

For a more detailed description than I could ever muster up, and for a fine example of how "plant language" works, check this link out.  You'll understand a few things, plenty of words in there I don't know yet as well.  But it gives you an idea.

http://araceae.e-monocot.org/taxonomy/term/5773

So, it is a member of the Araceae family or the Arum family...making it?  Yes, a type genus.  You can actually find a neat example of an arum with Arum italicum (which you can find in the trade round these parts).  This Arum is a little bit different though.

The thing to remember with these is that they flower in a really interesting way with a spathe (sheath the covers the spadix) and the spadix (the inflorescence or group of flowers).  You've seen it before, think of a peace lily.  This particular plant has a red tinged edge to the spathe and a white spathe.  There are actually separate male and female flowers that occur along the spadix, which I always find fascinating.  The flowers are supposedly foul smelling, yay.  As the flowers are pollinated and seed is set, the spathe will die back as the seed fully forms.  It looks interesting.

This particular arum grows from a rhizome (underground stem) and only sends up two leaves.  In terms of culture, it is safe to assume that it like rich woodland soil like many of its cousins.  Arum seeds can be VERY fickle to get to germinate and can take up to 2 years.  Sowing seed for Arum outside in the fall to expose it to fluctuations in temperature throughout the winter seems a common enough practice.

And now, dang near the only picture I could find for this.  It is still a rather new and undeveloped plant, enjoy.