Araceae FAMILY

Arisarum vulgare

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & 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 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. ].

Botanical Description

Arisarum vulgare is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing from an irregularly-shaped tuber with one or more growing points. Each growing point produces a single leaf up to 30cm tall with a flowering stem 30cm or more tall. The plant has been harvested from the wild for local use as a food - it has often been used in times of scarcity but is little used at other times. The plant is often grown as an ornamental.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeMediterranean region from western Europe and western N. Africa to Turkey and the Levant

HabitatGrassy places, open ground[ 45 Title Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Publication Author Polunin. O. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1980 ISBN 0-19-217626-9 Description A good pocket flora, it also lists quite a few plant uses. ] and rocky ground[ 90 Title Bulbs Publication Author Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books Year 1989 ISBN 0-330-30253-1 Description Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat. ].