Lords and ladies Arum macalatum
Table of Contents
Plant family: Araceae
Aliases: Adam and Eve, adder’s meat, cuckoo pint, devils and angels, naked ladies
Flowering period: April – May
Flower colour: Purple – brown
Preferred soil type: Moist, well drained
Habitat: Woodland, hedgerows, shaded sites
Status: Common
General information
An early-flowering, tuberous, perennial wildflower of the Arum family that has many aliases or nicknames, many of them derived from it’s unusual appearance. The plant emerges during the early spring period as the large glossy leaves appear prior to the appearance of the flowers initially as narrow green spikes before opening.
Lords and ladies is native to northern Africa and southern Europe. It thrives in shaded sites, such as woodland areas, hedgerows and ditch banks. It’s an erect plant that grows to a maximum height of 50cm and prefers moist, but well drained, nutrient rich soils.
Identification
Flowers: The unusual flowers appear during April – May, initially as pale, rolled green spikes or sheath called a spathe, 10 – 25cm long. Once they unfurl they reveal a poker shaped inflorescence called a spadix, which is purple – brown coloured (see above image).
Once the spathe dies back all that remains are the fertilised female flowers, which is a small spike of green fruits – berries (see image below) that eventually ripen before turning orange and finally bright red in the late summer / early autumn (see image below).
Leaves: The large arrow shaped, glossy leaves are deep green in colour, occasionally they may have purple – black markings on them. They are sometimes confused with sorrel leaves, as they are similar in appearance.
Value for wildlife
It is pollinated by small flies, mostly the owl midge, that are attracted by a decaying odour and heat given off by the plant. The flies are then trapped by the spathe where pollination takes place, before they are released.
Lords and ladies is unpalatable and toxic to most animals and there have been several tabloid articles about dogs eating them, resulting in serious illness including death. However, some birds, particularly pheasants can feed on the berries. Small rodents will also eat the spadix and it’s not uncommon to see the plant with it eaten away.
Uses for lords and ladies
Lords and ladies has medicinal properties and has been used to treat internal parasites, throat conditions and rheumatism. The roots contain starch and was once used during Elizabethan times as a clothes and fabric stiffener.
Lords and ladies images
Click to enlarge
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