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Arum maculatum
3-632.14.13English: Cuckoo-pint; Cuckoopint; Snakeshead; Adder's root; Arum;Wild arum; Arum lily; Lords-and-ladies; Devils and angels; Cows and bulls; Soldiers diddies; Priest's pintle; Adam and Eve; Bobbins; Naked girls; Naked boys; Starch-root; Wake robin; Friar's cowl; Sonsie-give-us-your-hand; Jack in the pulpit; Cheese and toast.
Synonym: Arum vernale; Arisarum maculatum; Arum vulgare; Arum pyrenaeum; Arum immaculatum; Arum malyi; Arum zeleborii; Arum trapezuntinum; Arum heldreichii.
Region: widespread, Europe, Turkey, Caucasus.
Habitat: in woodland areas and riversides; in partly shaded spots.
Content: oxalates of saponins with needle-shaped crystals.
Ecology: small rodents eat the spadix.
Use: root, roasted and ground, as food, like salep to make saloop, a drink like tea or coffee; as a substitute for arrowroot; ornamental; flower to make starch for altar cloths and other church linens.BotanyType: herb, appears in the spring;
Leaves: purple-spotted; glossy; when young small, light green, not glossy like the mature leaves.
Inflorescence: poker-shaped, called a spadix, partially enclosed in a pale green spathe or leaf-like hood; spadix produces heat and scent.
Flowers: hidden from sight, clustered at the base of the spadix, female flowers at the bottom, male flowers above them; above them a ring of hairs forming an insect trap, faecal; spadix purple, sometimes yellow; fruit red berries, attractive red to orange, extremely poisonous.
Root: tuber; very big, to 40 cm below ground level.
Chromosome coun: 2n = 56.
Synonym: Arum vernale; Arisarum maculatum; Arum vulgare; Arum pyrenaeum; Arum immaculatum; Arum malyi; Arum zeleborii; Arum trapezuntinum; Arum heldreichii.
Region: widespread, Europe, Turkey, Caucasus.
Habitat: in woodland areas and riversides; in partly shaded spots.
Content: oxalates of saponins with needle-shaped crystals.
Ecology: small rodents eat the spadix.
Use: root, roasted and ground, as food, like salep to make saloop, a drink like tea or coffee; as a substitute for arrowroot; ornamental; flower to make starch for altar cloths and other church linens.BotanyType: herb, appears in the spring;
Leaves: purple-spotted; glossy; when young small, light green, not glossy like the mature leaves.
Inflorescence: poker-shaped, called a spadix, partially enclosed in a pale green spathe or leaf-like hood; spadix produces heat and scent.
Flowers: hidden from sight, clustered at the base of the spadix, female flowers at the bottom, male flowers above them; above them a ring of hairs forming an insect trap, faecal; spadix purple, sometimes yellow; fruit red berries, attractive red to orange, extremely poisonous.
Root: tuber; very big, to 40 cm below ground level.
Chromosome coun: 2n = 56.