Arthropodium facts for kids
Arthropodium is a group of interesting plants. They are known as herbaceous perennials. This means they have soft stems, not woody ones like trees. They also live for more than two years. These plants belong to the Asparagaceae family. This is the same family as asparagus!
Quick facts for kids Arthropodium |
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| Arthropodium cirratum | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Lomandroideae |
| Genus: | Arthropodium R. Br. |
Contents
About Arthropodium Plants
What are Arthropodium Plants?
Arthropodium plants are a genus of flowering plants. They are part of the Lomandroideae subfamily. This subfamily is within the larger family of Asparagaceae. These plants are known for their soft stems. They also grow back year after year.
Where Do They Grow?
You can find Arthropodium plants in several places. They are native to Australia and New Zealand. They also grow naturally in New Caledonia and Madagascar. This shows they can adapt to different environments.
Amazing Uses of Arthropodium
Some types of Arthropodium plants have special parts. These parts are called rhizomes. Rhizomes are like underground stems. They can be eaten as root vegetables. This is similar to how we eat potatoes or carrots.
For example, the rhizomes of these species can be eaten:
- A. cirratum
- A. milleflorum
- A. minus
- A. strictum
The Rengarenga Lily
One important species is A. cirratum. It is native to New Zealand. People there call it rengarenga, renga lily, or New Zealand rock lily. It is also known as maikaika. Long ago, people might have even farmed this plant.
The rengarenga lily is not just food. It has also been used for medicine. It holds special meaning in traditional Māori culture. This shows how important plants can be to different cultures.
Types of Arthropodium Species
As of July 2014, scientists recognize several species of Arthropodium. Here are some of them:
- Arthropodium bifurcatum - Found in New Zealand's North Island.
- Arthropodium caesioides - Grows in Madagascar.
- Arthropodium candidum - Found in New Zealand's North and South Islands.
- Arthropodium cirratum - The rengarenga lily, found in New Zealand's North and South Islands.
- Arthropodium curvipes - Grows in Western Australia.
- Arthropodium dyeri - Also found in Western Australia.
- Arthropodium milleflorum - Known as the pale vanilla lily. It grows in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.
- Arthropodium minus - Called the small vanilla lily. It is found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.
- Arthropodium neocaledonicum - Grows in New Caledonia.
Formerly Included Species
Some plants were once thought to be Arthropodium. But now, scientists have moved them to different groups. For example:
- Arthropodium fimbriatum is now called Dichopogon fimbriatus.
- Arthropodium strictum is now called Dichopogon strictus. This plant is also known as the chocolate lily.
See also
In Spanish: Arthropodium para niños
