zantedeschia+aethipica+_+calla+lily

Calla lily Zantedeschia aethiopica May 2007 by Jay Yourch

Calla lily is a non-native from South Africa, but has been naturalized in California, Oregon and Hawaii. It is an evergreen perennial that grows up to 3 feet tall; it is most known for its iconic white flower that blooms in early summer. Calla lily is a hardy plant that can grow in sandy, loamy and clay soils; it also tolerates acidic, neutral and alkaline soils. It needs wet or saturated soils and grows well in wetlands and on the edges of ponds. Calla lily has been shown to remove nitrogen at high rates in constructed subsurface flow wetlands; their presence promote oxygenation of the soil, creating aerobic and anaerobic zones that the nitrification process. Calla lily shows promise for wastewater treatment solutions in developing countries because it of its high performance in constructed wetlands and production of commercially valuable flowers; this combined value reduces the cost of such a system, a major limiting factor of their implementation. This plant is poisonous due to the presence of calcium oxylate. Consuming will produce a sensation of needles sticking in the mouth.

Belmont, M. A., & Metcalfe, C. D. (2003). Feasibility of using ornamental plants (Zantedeschia aethiopica) in subsurface flow treatment wetlands to remove nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand and nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactantsa laboratory-scale study. //Ecological Engineering Ecological Engineering, 21//(4-5), 233-247.
 * Work Cited**

Sarafraz, S., Mohammad, T. A., Noor, M. J. M. M., & Liaghat, A. (2009). Wastewater treatment using horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. //American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5//(1), 772-778.

Spreng, L. (2010). Zantedeschia aethiopica Retrieved 4/23/12, from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Zantedeschia+aethiopica

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. //Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)// [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?42173 (23 April 2012)

USDA, NRCS. 2012. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 23 April 2012). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA. Zantedeschia aethiopica (2012). //Plant Details// Retrieved 4/23/12, from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a475/zantedeschia-aethiopica.aspx