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E. Kozuharova, V. Kochmarov, E. Kachaunova, A. Espíndola, B.
Aleksandrov & I. Mincheva
Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria*
Abstract
Kozuharova, E., Kochmarov, V., Kachaunova, E., Espíndola, A., Aleksandrov, B. & Mincheva,
I.: Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria. — Fl. Medit. 24: 51-62. 2014. — ISSN: 1120-
4052 printed, 2240-4538 online.
The common European Arum maculatum L. is an acknowledged medicinal plant. Although the
uses of the plant are widely acknowledged, little is known about the actual exploitation poten-
tial in natural and cultivated conditions. We aim to address this question. The first step in know-
ing if a resource is exploitable is checking where the plant is present.
In this study, we first gathered information based on a critical revision of the deposited herbar-
ium samples of genus Arum L. in the national Bulgarian herbaria. Secondly, we organized this
information in a database, which was used to construct UTM-grid maps of the current known
distribution of the taxa in Bulgaria. Thirdly, we compiled the presented information on the
UTM-grid maps together with our field study data which we collected during the period April
– July 2013 by visiting locations known from the literature and from the herbarium vouchers
(see above) and checking for the presence of Arum.
When considering the potential exploitation of the plant in natural conditions, our preliminary
field survey suggests a more limited potential in Bulgaria, when compared to previous investi-
gations. Also, the fact that the proper identification is difficult even to specialists could lead to
a serious hazard, since plant collectors may confuse species, and thus may improperly use them.
Based on all the mentioned above, it appears that the most appropriate solution for any phar-
maceutical exploitation would be to develop a cultivation program.
Key words: medicinal use, Bulgaria, plant resources.
Introduction
The common European Arum maculatum L. is an acknowledged medicinal plant in
Bulgaria, even though not among the most popular ones (Medicinal plant act 2000), pos-
sibly because it is poisonous. In Bulgarian traditional and folk medicine Arum maculatum
has been shown to be used in kidney stone disease, colitis, liver disease and hyperacidities.
Furthermore, the plant has been reported as a very effective remedy against haemorrhoids
- a medical condition that has hardly any other alternative effective cure except surgery
Fl. Medit. 24: 51-62
doi: 10.7320/FlMedit24.051
Version of Record published online on 14 July 2014
* Extended and enriched version of the poster presented at the XIV Optima meeting in Palermo,
9-15 Sept. 2013.
(Petkov 1982; Pamukov & Ahtardjiev 1989; Pamukov 1995; Dimkov 2001; Ivancheva &
Stantcheva 2000; Nikolov 2006). Moreover, the plant substance Ari Tubera has been clin-
ically demonstrated to have an anti-inflammatory activity in the intestinal and respiratory
tract (Petkov 1982).
Arum maculatum is among the plants found in the renaissance herbals, namely Zwinger,
1696 to treat malaria (Adams & al. 2011). Ethnopharmacological research studies reveal
the application of Arum maculatum in Turkey against colitis (Everest & Ozturk 2005) and
internal bleeding haemorrhoids (Uzun & al. 2004; Demirci & Özhatay 2012). According
to Gürhan & Ezer (2004) Arum balansanum R. Mill., Arum detruncatum C.A. Meyer ex
Schott Arum elongatum Steven and Dracunculus vulgaris Schott are among the plants (84
plant genera belonging to 46 families) that are used for the treatment of haemorrhoids in
Turkey. In South Italian traditional and folk medicine, Arum italicum Mill. is used against
warts (Pieroni & Quave 2005).
The latest general publication dedicated to Bulgarian flora includes genera for which the
distribution is only partially known (e.g. Iris, Euphorbia, Arum Assyov & Petrova 2006).
As a consequence, Raycheva and Stoyanov have recently responded to the need of increas-
ing our knowledge on this when working on genus Iris, sect. Limniris (Iridaceae,
Raycheva & Stoyanov 2012). However, the Bulgarian range of Arum has not been
explicitly evaluated.
In the context of this background information, although the uses of Arum are largely
acknowledged, little is known about the actual exploitation potential in natural and cultivated
conditions, mainly because of the lack of information on its actual range. Therefore, the major
goal of this study is to clarify the natural distribution of the genus Arum in Bulgaria. Thus, this
study would be the first step to further research and data analysis on the evaluation of natural
resources and possibilities for exploitation and medicinal application.
Material and methods
We gathered distribution information based on a critical revision of the deposited
herbarium samples of genus Arum L. in the national Bulgarian herbaria. First, we analyzed
224 herbarium vouchers of Bulgarian Arum, deposited in the Herbaria of Agricultural
University Plovdiv (SOA – 128 vouchers), the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SOM – 52 vouchers), the Biological
Faculty of Sofia University (SO – 34 vouchers), and the Faculty of Pharmacy of Medical
University of Sofia (10 vouchers). We organized this information in a database, which we
used to construct UTM-grid maps of the current distribution of the taxa in Bulgaria.
During the period April – July 2013 we visited locations known from the literature
and the herbarium vouchers (see above) and checked for the presence of Arum. At each
location, we took pictures of all observed plants and we collected vouchers. All col-
lections of tubers and voucher materials are now deposited in the Herbarium of the
Faculty of Pharmacy of the Medical University of Sofia. This Herbarium is not yet
registered and that is why we do not present voucher numbers at this stage (vouchers
can be available upon request).
52 Kozuharova & al.: Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria
In the field, we registered the geographic co-ordinates of each location and we further
used these to build distribution maps (see below). We registered the number of individuals
and their ontogenic stage at each location in order to evaluate natural resource exploitation.
We walked throughout the area where the individuals of Arum were distributed and way-
points marking the border of distribution were recorded with a GARMIN GPS eTrex Vista
HCx, Datum WGS 1984. The waypoint co-ordinates were then placed on topographic
maps and the results analyzed.
Identification of the Arum species was effected with reference to flora books and
monographs (Andreev & al. 1992; Boyce 1993; Delipavlov & Cheshmedzhiev 2003;
Bedalov & Kuepfer 2005; eMonocot 2013). Identification in the genus Arum has
always been a major difficulty. The shape of the leaves does not always show partic-
ular specifics among the species and at a section level the morphology of the tuber is
an important diagnostic character. Indeed, the most important diagnostics in this
group are in the fresh inflorescence, although flowering lasts a few weeks and the
chance to find blooming plants is not high. To obtain additional information on the
species identities, we observed the sprouting behaviour of the tubers, which in some
cases can help differentiate species (e.g. in sect. Dioscoridea A. elongatum sprouts
earlier than A. cylindraceum).
Results and discussion
Our herbaria analysis indicate that some vouchers have been misidentified (A. italicum,
A. cylindraceum and A. elongatum identified as A. maculatum, and vice-versa). After cor-
rection, we can here present the species updated ranges based on herbarium materials of
Arum species for Bulgaria (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 7).
The information is compiled with our field study data that confirms some of the locali-
ties of certain taxa (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 7).
Sect. Arum - Species with rhizomatous tuber occurring in Bulgaria
Arum maculatum L.
The populations of this species occur in temperate mixed forests on the lower slopes
of the mountains of central and south-western Bulgaria (Fig. 1), in the following
floristic regions: (according to herbarium vouchers) Predbalkan, Stara planina, Sofia
district, Znepole, Strouma valley, Rila, Rhodopes, Trakia lowland. We confirmed sev-
eral already known localities, as well as spotted some new ones (Table 1, Fig. 1).
We checked several habitats potentially appropriate for A. maculatum in the Osogovo
Mts. during the flowering period (Fig. 1 FM73). Indeed, according to Mitrev (1995) this
mountain hosts one of the biggest populations of this species. However, A. maculatum was
absent in all the potentially appropriate habitats that we visited, even though we performed
strong searches in the area. This would indicate that, contrary to the findings in previous
publications, A. maculatum has a very restricted distribution in this mountain; thus it was
impossible to spot it.
Flora Mediterranea 24 — 2014 53
Arum italicum Mill.
This is the only wintergreen Arum with rhizomatous tuber in Bulgaria. The populations
of this species occur in temperate mixed forests in low mountainous habitats. According to
the herbarium vouchers, its distribution in Bulgaria is comparatively wide (Fig. 3), which
also agrees with previous general surveys (Boyce 1993; Bedalov and Küpfer, 2005).
However, we could not confirm identifications of many herbarium vouchers due to the bad
condition of the material. Also, it was hard to confirm the species occurrences in the field
due to the phenological stage of the plant (inflorescences not fully developed) at the time
of visits. A. italicum occurs in the following floristic regions (according to herbarium
vouchers): Rhodopes (Central, Eastern)
We checked several potentially appropriate habitats in the area of Kardzhali (Table 1,
Fig. 3 - LG60, LF48, LF58, LF69, LF79), because, according to Delipavlov & Cesmedziev
(2003), the only locality of this species occurs in that area. These researchers have carried
54 Kozuharova & al.: Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria
Taxon of plants that we located Locality name, nearest settlement UTM grid
Sect. Arum - Species with rhizomatous tuber
confirmed localities in our field study
Arum maculatum
Urvich
Knjazhevo
Trunska Bankja
Konjavska Mts. Bunovo
Bov
Blagoevgrad
Ljulin
Trjavna
FN91
FN82
FN34
FM49
FN96
FM76
FN72
LH75
localities known from previous publications that we checked in our field study and did not find Arum spp.
Arum maculatum Osogiovo FM37
Arum italicum
Kardzhali region LG60, LF48,
LF58, LF69,
LF79
Sect. Dioscoridea - Species with discoid tuber
confirmed localities in our field study
Arum elongatum
Dobrogled
Strandja mts. – Stoilovo, Dokuzak
Strandja mts. – Slivarovo
Strandja mts. – Mladezhka river
NH69
NG45
NG54
NG36
Arum cylindraceum
Strandja mts. – Mladezhka river
Strandja mts. - Brushljan
Kamchia region
Bachkovo
Konjavska Mts., Gorna Koznitza
NG36
NG35
NH66, NH76
LG24
FM58
Arum orientale
Sahrane
Kamchia
Kamen Brjag
Kaliakra
Strandja mts. – Slivarovo
Strandja mts. – Malko Turnovo
Zlatograd
Bezhanovo
Iskar
LH52
NH76
PJ21
PJ10
NG54
NG44
LF38
KH88
KJ93
confirmed localities in our field study
Arum sp.
Arum sp.
Rusenski Lom
Panega river
MJ14
KH78
Table 1. Our findings as a result of the field studies carried out in April – July 2013.
Flora Mediterranea 24 — 2014 55
Fig. 2. Arum maculatum from Konjavska Mts. Bunovo FM49.
Fig. 1. Current distribution of Arum maculatum in Bulgaria. Legend: Red dots - herbaria data; blue
splash - populations of A. maculatum found during our field study; blue splash with white dot in the
centre - potentially appropriate habitats in area reported in previous publications as locality of A. mac-
ulatum where we could not confirm its occurrence during our field study.
out the most detailed investigation on Arum in Bulgaria so far and thus their opinion mat-
ters (Delipavlov & Cesmedziev 1983). Our field research in the area of Kardzhali did not
bring a positive result, which suggests a restricted distribution. Also we could not confirm
the occurrence of A. italicum in the area of north-east Bulgaria, cape Kaliakra (PJ10), and
the herbarium material from this site was revised and not confirmed (misidentified instead
of Arum sp., sect. Dioscoridea). All the plants we found in the area of cape Kaliakra (PJ10)
had discoid tubers (Table 1).
Sect. Dioscoridea - Species with discoid tuber occurring in Bulgaria
Arum cylindraceum Gasp. (Syn. A. alpinum Scott & Kotchy)
The populations of this species occur in temperate mixed forests on the lower slopes of
the mountains, extending down to the sea level, in the following floristic regions (accord-
ing to herbarium vouchers): Stara planina, Znepole, Strandja. The plants that we identified
as A. cylindraceum were found as members of the deciduous forest understorey in the area
of Stranja Mts. (NG36, NG35) and under deciduous shrubs in the vicinity of Gorna
Koznitza (FM58). The habitats where we found the plants in the area of river Kamchia
estuary (NH66, NH76 - deciduous forest ground layer or under shrubs) were similar. At the
time of voucher collecting from the populations in the area of Gorna Koznitza and
56 Kozuharova & al.: Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria
Fig. 3. Current distribution of Arum italicum in Bulgaria. Legend: Red dots – herbaria data; blue
splash with white dot in the centre – potentially appropriate habitats in area reported in previous pub-
lications as locality of A. italicum where we could not confirm its occurrence during our field study.
Flora Mediterranea 24 — 2014 57
Fig. 4. Current distribution of Arum cylindraceum in Bulgaria. Legend: Red dots – herbaria data; blue
splash – populations of A. cylindraceum found during our field study.
Fig. 5. Arum cylindraceum from Stranja Mts. NG36.
Kamchia estuary we did not have enough data for identification due to the phenological
stage – lack of inflorescences. However in the autumn we were certain about the fact that
these plants were A. cylindraceum due to the careful analysis of morphology of leaves,
morphology of tubers and the lack of sprouting in late autumn. The careful analysis of the
available characters of the individuals found in the vicinity of Bachkovo monastery
(LG24) (morphology of leaves and infructescence, morphology of tubers and the lack of
sprouting in late autumn) suggests that the specimens could belong to A. cylindraceum, or
be hybrids of A. cylindraceum with A. orientale, or A. elongatum.
The results of our field study indicate that Arum cylindraceum seems to have a wider
distribution in Bulgaria than it was believed before. Therefore implications for further
research are additional field trips during flowering period for reliable identification of the
dubious findings.
Arum orientale M. Bieb.
The taxonomic status of this species is largely unclear and still under revision and dis-
cussion (Boyce 1993; Bedalov & Kuepfer 2005). The Bulgarian populations classically
assigned to this species occur in temperate mixed forests on the lower slopes of the moun-
tains in the following floristic regions: (according to herbarium vouchers) Black sea coast,
Predbalkan, Stouma valley, Rhodopes, Trakia lowland, Stara planina, Danube plane,
Znepole, Strandja.
58 Kozuharova & al.: Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria
Fig. 6. Current distribution of Arum orientale in Bulgaria. Red dots: herbaria data; blue splash – pop-
ulations of A. orientale found during our field study.
Based on the available characters (leaves and inflorescence, the morphology of the
tuber and the sprouting in late autumn) we detected its presence at a locality in the vicini-
ty of village of Sahrane and village of Iskar (LH52, KJ 93, Table 1, Figs. 6 and 7). The
plants that we located in the area of cape Kaliakra (PJ10) and village of Kamen brjag
(PJ21) were at fruiting stage, when we found them under groups of deciduous trees or at
the base of shrubs as well as completely exposed as a part of the steppe vegetation (Table
1, Fig. 6). The same fruiting stage was found with regard to the plants collected from the
Strandja Mts. (NG44, deciduous forest ground layer, Table 1, Fig. 6). Individuals of this
species at a stage before flowering were found in the area of the River Kamchia estuary
(NH76, deciduous forest ground layer or under shrubs, Table 1, Fig. 6), Strandja Mts.
(NG54, deciduous forest ground layer, Table 1, Fig. 6), the village of Bezhanovo (KH88,
deciduous forest ground layer, Table 1, Fig. 6), and the in the vicinity of Zlatograd (LF38,
deciduous forest ground layer, Table 1, Fig. 6). The plants of all these populations found
before or after flowering could not be identified with certaintly as A. orientale until their
sprouting behaviour could be observed in the autumn and in addition a careful examina-
tion of their tuber morphology could be carried out.
Flora Mediterranea 24 — 2014 59
Fig. 7. Arum orientale from village of Sahrane LH52 and village of Iskar KJ 93.
60 Kozuharova & al.: Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria
Fig. 9. Arum elongatum from Strandja Mts. NG 36, NG 45, and village of Dobrogled NH69.
Fig. 8. Current distribution of Arum elongatum in Bulgaria. Legend: Red dots – herbaria data; blue
splash – populations of A. elongatum found during our field study.
Arum elongatum Steven
This species was known to occur in temperate mixed forests on the lower slopes of the
mountains in the following floristic regions (according to herbarium vouchers): Black sea
coast, Predbalkan, Stouma valley, Slavjanka, Belasitza, Rhodopes, Trakia lowland, Tundja
hilly region. In our field study, plants identified as Arum elongatum were found in the area of
Stranja Mts. (NG45, NG54, NG36, NG35, deciduous forest ground layer, Table 1, Figs. 8 and
9) and the village of Dobrogled (NH69, deciduous forest ground layer, Table 1, Figs. 8 and 9).
Conclusions
Our revision provides an updated view of the range of genus Arum in Bulgaria. For exam-
ple we found that A. cylindraceum is more widely distributed than initially considered (Andreev
& al. 1992; Ancev 1996; Delipavlov & Cheshmedzhiev 2003; Assyov & Petrova, 2006). Also
we confirmed the opinion of Delipavlov & Cheshmedzhiev (2003) that A. maculatum is less
widely distributed than initially considered (Andreev & al. 1992, Assyov & Petrova 2006). In
other words A. maculatum occurs only in the floristic regions: Predbalkan, Stara planina, Sofia
district, Znepole, Strouma valley, Rila, Rhodopes, Trakia lowland. This suggests a more limit-
ed potential of natural resources exploitation compared to previous investigations. Mitrev
(1995) evaluated the potential resource of the plant substance (Ari Tubera) as 51 tonnes per
year. We consider this quite impossible. Mitrev (1995) extrapolated the exploitation potential
based on the presumption of a wider distribution of A. maculatum on the territory of Bulgaria
than it obviously occupies in reality. Also we did not confirm the occurrence of Arum species
in many places where they were supposed to exist. In addition the populations that we found
often consisted of a restricted number of individuals.
The fact that the proper identification is difficult even to specialists could lead to a haz-
ard, since plant collectors may confuse species, and thus, may improperly use them.
Based on all the information mentioned above with regard to the potential pharmaceu-
tical exploitation of the plant substance of Arum maculatum, our results suggest that the
most appropriate solution would be developing an indoors cultivation program rather then
exploiting natural populations.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr Frank O’Reilly (Agricultural & Rural Development Consultant, London) for
the editing of English language.
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Addresses of the authors:
Ekaterina Kozuharova1, Vladimir Kochmarov1,5, Eli Kachaunova2, Anahí
Espíndola3, Borislav Aleksandrov4& Irena Mincheva1,
1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dunav 2, Sofia 1000,
Bulgaria. E-mail: ina_kozuharova@yahoo.co.uk
2Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and
Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Street, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria.
3Department of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences South 252, University of Idaho,
Moscow, ID, U.S.A.
4University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Hristo Smirnenski 1,
Sofia 1046, Bulgaria.
5Panacea 2001 LTD, Galabez 2 Sofia 1505, Bulgaria.
62 Kozuharova & al.: Distribution of Arum (Araceae) in Bulgaria