User:Emgray17/Sandbox Peltandra Virginica

Arrow Arum, Peltandra virginica, is a member of the Araceae family and is more commonly known by the names Tuckahoe, Green Arrow Arum, Peltandre and Virginia Wake Robin. Based off of the basionym is has also been named Alocasia virginica (L.) Raf., Caladium virginicum (L.) Hook., Calla virginica (L.) Michx., Lecontia virginica (L.) Torr., Rensselaeria virginica (L.) L.C. Beck. Other synonyms include: Peltandra luteospadix Fernald, P. tharpii F.A. Barkley, and the basionym Arum virginicum L. P. virginica is a hydrophytic marshland aquatic plant pollinated by a chloropid fly through providing a brood site and releasing the pollen onto them. The primary dispersal mechanisms are via water and animals.

Description
Peltandra virginica is a marshland aquatic plant, growing in North America bogs, ponds, and marshes. The roots and base grow into the submerged substrate, and the leaves and inflorescences project up and out of the water. The roots form a perennial rhizome. Various forms of leaf blades have been observed, both in larger ranges and smaller individual populations. Petioles range from green to green-purple to purple with a medium green blade petiole lengths between 38 and 98 centimeters and blade length being between 9 and 57 centimeters. Lateral veins also have variable thicknesses. Inflorescences are generally pale green to white, being lighter within the spathe. Lengths for the inflorescense range between 7 and 25 centimeters with the spadix being about half the size to the full length of the spathe with greenish to white flowers, producing fruits that rot within the closed spathe. Fruits are pea green to mottled green and purple and range from 6 to 16 millimeters. In most of its range, it blooms from spring to late summer and fall and in warmer regions, it will bloom into the winter. It generally thrives in low salinity environments.

Taxonomy
In the eastern United States and Canada where Peltandra virginica resides, one other Peltandra species exists, P. sagittifolia. P. virginica can be distinguished from the other extant taxon of Peltandra by the variation in leaf form, average greater size in non-reproductive structures, and the difference in color of the fruit. The fruit of P. sagittifolia is red with a white spathe, and the fruit of P. virginica are green to purple with a green to yellow green spathe. According to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, P. virginica hails from the Araceae family in the Alismatales, containing inflorescences' known from the order.

Distribution and Habitat
Peltandra virginica is a native aquatic plant to North America, its range spans the entire eastern Coast of the United States and goes as far west as Texas. It is also naturalized in areas of California up to Oregon and is present in eastern regions of Canada. It mostly inhabits the wetlands and swamps, including marshes and bogs.

Conservation
Based on the Red List of Threatened Species 2016, P. virginica is a taxon of Least Concern, this is because of its broad range in eastern and central North America. In some areas within the range of P. virginica the populations are diminishing. It has also been found in California. While common in most of its range, P. virginica is listed as Endangered in Iowa.

Etymology
The generic name derives from the Greek words for shield, pelte, and for man, andos or aner, making Peltandra. This generic name was published by Rafinesque in 1819, and the specific epithet by Linnaeus in the synonym Arum virginicum in 1753 and then later assigned to Peltandra by Schott in 1832. Thus creating the currently accepted name Peltandra virginica.

Pollination Biology
In the pistillate stage the spadix of P. virginica is entirely covered by the spathe, not allowing insects to pollinate them. Pollination is achieved by the plant utilizing brood-site-based pollination, the frit fly, Elachiptera formosa Loew, forms a symbiotic relationship with the inflorescence. The flies are attracted to the odor of the flowers in the staminate stage where they feed on pollen and mate then find oviposition sites, followed by the development of the larvae and maturity of the flies.

Ethnobotany
Historical accounts suggest that Native Americans may have used Peltandra virginica as a food source. It is mentioned that they may have eaten the seeds and fruits as well as leaves and roots. The section of P. virginica 's range from Pennsylvania to coastal Virginia, where its populations are higher are where they were most likely utilized for food. Other times it has been used as an ornamental plant or used to stabilize sediments in of small bodies of water.

Wildlife
Peltandra virginica is considered a low percentage of various animals food sources. Peltandra virginica makes up 5-10% of the diet of small mammals that reside within its range and makes up 10-25% of the diet of water birds that share its range. Peltandra virginica makes up 5-10% of the diet of water birds that share its range.

Toxicity
The non-reproductive structures of Peltandra virginica are known to contain calcium oxalate crystals, that can irritate the gastrointestinal system of animals and people and has been linked to the development of kidney stones.