Arum palaestinum
Black calla, solomon's lily, Solomon'S Lily
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Family: Araceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Arum palaestinum (Black calla) is a non-native California perennial in the Araceae family, recognized by key differences are appendage color, tuber orientation, and habitat (wetland vs. disturbed areas).
Black calla is a naturalized perennial found in the northern California coastal bioregion around Humboldt Bay, specifically at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary and Woodley Island at elevations below 10 meters. Flowering in March, this plant produces a distinctive inflorescence with a dark purple appendage emerging from a large bract approximately 15 centimeters long. Growing from a vertical tuber, it develops leaves with blades less than 21 centimeters long supported by petioles under 32 centimeters tall. Its leaf structure features broad, relatively large blades emerging from the central tuber. The fruit develops in a yellow-green color, adding subtle visual interest to this exotic marsh-dwelling plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are appendage color, tuber orientation, and habitat (wetland vs. disturbed areas)
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marsh, moist meadow
Elevation: < 10 m
Outside California: native to Israel
Bloom period
Arum palaestinum blooms Mar.
How to tell it apart
vs Zantedeschia: Arum has pale yellow-green on the bract outside; Zantedeschia is pure white on both surfaces.; vs Dracunculus: Arum has arrow-shaped leaves and a pale hood; Dracunculus has deeply divided leaves and dark purple hood.; vs Arisaema: Arum has arrow-shaped leaves and flowers on spike; Arisaema has compound leaves divided into leaflets.; vs Silybum: Arum has smooth arrow-shaped leaves with a hooded flower; Silybum has spiny white-veined thistle leaves.; vs Peltandra: Arum has pale yellow-green bract outside; Peltandra has a narrow green bract tightly wrapped around spike.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arum palaestinum native to California?
No. Arum palaestinum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Arum palaestinum bloom?
Arum palaestinum blooms Mar.
What plant family does Arum palaestinum belong to?
Arum palaestinum is in the Araceae family, genus Arum.
What habitat does Arum palaestinum grow in?
Arum palaestinum grows in Marsh, moist meadow.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.