Italian lords and ladies, Italian Arum

Arum italicum

Physical Characteristics

Arum italicum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Flies. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Distribution

Southern Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Edible Uses: Tuber - cooked and used as a vegetable[2, 177]. An arrowroot can be extracted from the dried root[105]. The root must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

The plant contains calcium oxylate crystals. These cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten, but they are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water[65].