Arum italicum subsp. canariense
# Arum italicum subsp. canariense

Arum italicum subsp. canariense is a flowering plant subspecies in the family Araceae.

## Description

Arum italicum subsp. canariense differs from other subspecies in having spathe tubes that are purple on the interior, staminodes in 2 or 3 whorls (versus 4 or 5 in other subspecies), and petioles and peduncles that are dull purple instead of green. Leaves and inflorescences of Madeiran plants are also reportedly larger than continental plants.

## Habitat

It grows in clearings in Laurus forests in Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Azores.

## Taxonomy

It was described in 1848 as an independent species, Arum canariense. Within the genus Arum, it belongs to subgenus Arum, and section Arum. A recent molecular study found that this island subspecies is well-differentiated from its mainland relatives, although its specific status and relationship with the mainland Arum italicum and with Arum concinnatum are unclear.

