Zantedeschia aethiopica

Zantedeschia aethiopica, known by many colloquial names including the arum lily or the calla lily and in Afrikaans as the aronskelk (arum cup) or the varkblom (pig lily), is an evergreen or deciduous perennial growing from a mostly horizontal rhizome to heights from 60 cm to 1 m, sometimes 2 m. The plants form large colonies where conditions suit them.

A white spathe around the shorter, erect yellow spadix forms the well-known flowers that are faintly scented. The wide-mouthed spathe dimensions are about 15 cm by 10 cm. The upper half of the yellow spike or spadix inside the spathe is covered in minute, stalkless male florets without perianths that shed pollen through pores at their tips. Below them on the lower half of the same spadix the also tiny female florets, also without perianths consist of ovaries, styles and stigmas. Flowering happens from winter to early summer.

The species distribution is widespread in South Africa, found in all nine provinces and some neighbouring countries.

The habitat is seasonally wet or marshy places and near streams. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century.

The rhizomes are boiled and eaten in some rural communities. Elephants uproot the plants for the tasty parts and porcupines also dig to eat them. The fruits are consumed by various kinds of birds. The leaves feature in traditional medicine. This is a popular garden plant and cut flower, good near water as it thrives in the wet and tolerates snow (Pooley, et al, 2025; Manning, 2009; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Pooley, 1998; Mason and Du Plessis, 1972; Letty, 1962; iNaturalist; https://redlist. sanbi.org).