The Aracae, a family of large-leaved, tropical understory herbs,climbers and epiphytes, is the source of many common house plants, such as philodendrons and pothos “ivy.”
Most aroids have broad, smooth, somewhat succulent leaves. Their inflorescences are distinctive, with tiny flowers borne closely packed on a spike-like structure called a “spadix.”
The spadix is more or less (depending on the species) enclosed in a leaf-like structure called a “spathe.” Familiar examples of aroids are the calla lily, and our own plant celebrity, Lois!