Arum macuiatum L.
Arum macuiatum L.
451 (3). A. macuiatum L. Sp. PI. ed. 1 (1753) 966; A. Besserianum Schott in Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. VIII (1858) 349; Hayek Prodr, Fl. Penins. Balc. 111(1933) 421— Петнист змиярник
Fam: Araceae Neck
Genus: Arum L.
Species: Arum macuiatum L.
English Name: Snakeshead, Adder's root, ...Description:
Perennial plants. Oval or cylindrical tubers. The leaf lamina spear, arrow or spear, often with dark spots on long, thin stems, expanding in the base places as vagina, that surround flowering stem. Inflorescence to 3 cm long. Cover outside greenish, ovoid pipe-like, inside dyed lime green, on the edge at the bottom bright or dark magenta, Up narrowing and opening in the extended oval lanceolate, up to 4 cm long and 2 cm wide, green, yellow-green, rarely purple spotted plate. Appendage yellow or violet, thin, 3 mm wide and 7 cm long, 2 times or more shorter than the veil thickened part almost equal to the hilt. Fruit orange red. Seed 4 - 5 mm in length, almost spherical, slightly laterally compressed, the surface of ± round holes in the base with thickening.
Note. In Bulgaria as indoor ornamental plants are grown: calla - Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng. (Calla aethiopica L., Richardia africana Kunth), originates from South Africa and filodendron - Monstera deliciosa Liebm. {Philodendron petrusum Koch et Bche.), Originates from tropical America.
From "Флора на НР България", том II, БАН, София, (1964)* * *
Arum maculatum is a common woodland plant species of the Araceae family. It is widespread across most of Europe as well as Turkey and Caucasus.[1][2][3][4] It is known by an abundance of common names including snakeshead, adder's root, arum, wild arum, arum lily, lords-and-ladies, devils and angels, cows and bulls, cuckoo-pint, Adam and Eve, bobbins, naked girls, naked boys, starch-root, wake robin, friar's cowl and jack in the pulpit. The name "lords-and-ladies" and other gender related names refer to the plant's likeness to male and female genitalia symbolising copulation. [5]
Description
The purple spotted leaves of Arum maculatum appear in the spring (April–May) followed by the flowers borne on a poker shaped inflorescence called a spadix. The purple spadix is partially enclosed in a pale green spathe or leaf-like hood. The flowers are hidden from sight, clustered at the base of the spadix with a ring of female flowers at the bottom and a ring of male flowers above them.
Above the male flowers is a ring of hairs forming an insect trap. Insects, especially owl-midges Psychoda phalaenoides,[6] are attracted to the spadix by its faecal odour and a temperature up to 15 degrees Celsius warmer than the ambient temperature.[7] The insects are trapped beneath the ring of hairs and are dusted with pollen by the male flowers before escaping and carrying the pollen to the spadices of other plants, where they pollinate the female flowers. The spadix may also (see the picture) be yellow, but purple is the more common.
In autumn the lower ring of (female) flowers forms a cluster of bright red berries which remain after the spathe and other leaves have withered away. These attractive red to orange berries are extremely poisonous. The berries contain oxalates of saponins which have needle-shaped crystals which irritate the skin, mouth, tongue, and throat, and result in swelling of throat, difficulty breathing, burning pain, and upset stomach. However, their acrid taste coupled with the almost immediate tingling sensation in the mouth when consumed mean that large amounts are rarely taken and serious harm is unusual. It is one of the most common causes of accidental plant poisoning based on attendance at hospital A & E departments.[8]
The root-tuber may be very big and is used to store starch. In mature specimens the tuber may be as much as 400 mm below ground level.All parts of the plant can produce allergic reactions in many people and the plant should be handled with care. Many small rodents appear to find the spadix particularly attractive and it is common to find examples of the plant with much of the spadix eaten away. The spadix produces heat and probably scent as the flowers mature and it may be this that attracts the rodents.
Arum maculatum is also known as cuckoo pint or cuckoo-pint in the British Isles and is named thus in Nicholas Culpepers' famous 17th Century herbal. This is a name it shares with Arum italicum (Italian lords-and-ladies) - the other native British Arum. "Pint" is a shortening of the word "pintle", meaning penis, derived from the shape of the spadix. The euphemistic shortening has been traced to Turner in 1551.[9]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia* * *
Flowering Time: Blooms: V - VI.
References: "Флора на НР България", том II, БАН, София, (1964), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Distribution in Bulgaria: Grows in the shady and humid forests and shrubs, mostly in the mountainous zone to 1800 meters altitude. Spread throughout whole Bulgaria, in the southern parts less often. (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.
Distribution: North and Central Europe, northern Iberian, Apennine and the Balkans, the Caucasus.
Conservation status and threats: not protected species in Bulgaria by the Biodiversity Law. - Biological Diversity Act - http://eea.government.bg/bg/legislation/biodiversity/zbran_22.08.15.pdf
Medical plant: Yes, it ia - Medicinal Plants Act - http://eea.government.bg/bg/legislation/biodiversity/ZLR_en.pdf
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