The paper gives a detailed morphological analysis of seedlings of 45 genera of Araceae. Including all seedling descriptions in the literature, informations for 60 genera are available now.
Generally, the cotyledon is subdivided into a bifacial hypophyll and a unifacial hyperphyll. The presumably most ancestral seedling type is characterised by a compact cotyledon, the cotyledonary hyperphyll is a haustorium inside the copious endosperm. Furthermore, it has a well growing primary root, the plumule gives rise to one to several cataphylls until the first eophylls develop. Starting from this type, two very different evolutionary lines can be followed. The first one leads to a seedling of which the cotyledonary hypophyll is transformed to an assimilating, blade‐like organ, while the minute unifacial hyperphyll is haustorial and hidden in the seed (e.g. Philodendron, Colocasia, Sauromatum ). The second line leads to endospermless seeds, the cotyledonary hyperphyll is transformed to a voluminous storage organ, hypocotyl and primary root are completely missing (e.g. Aglaonema, Arophyton, Nephthytis ). Many tribes are characterised by one or by two closely related seedling types, but a few tribes encompass a surprising diversity of seedlings (e. g. Caladieae, Spathicarpeae, Areae). The possible adaptive value of different seedlings is discussed.