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Arum italicum - Mill.

Common Name Italian lords and ladies, Italian Arum
Family Araceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
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].
Habitats Stony ground near the sea, hedges and among old walls, often on calcareous soils[17, 90, 200].
Range Southern Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Arum italicum Italian lords and ladies, Italian Arum


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arum_italicum_002.JPG
Arum italicum Italian lords and ladies, Italian Arum

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Orange. Main Bloom Time: Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. neglectum. A. modicense. A. numidicum.

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.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Rock garden, Woodland garden. Prefers a humus rich soil and abundant water in the growing season[1]. Succeeds in sun or dry shade[90], preferring a shady position[4, 17, 31] and growing well in woodland conditions[1]. A polymorphic species[200], the British form has been separated off by some botanists as A. neglectum[17]. The leaves appear in the autumn, the plant staying green all winter[1, K]. The inflorescence has the remarkable ability to heat itself above the ambient air temperature to such a degree that it is quite noticeable to the touch[4]. This probably protects the flowers from damage by frost, or allows it to penetrate frozen ground. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse or cold frame as soon as it is ripe[134]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[134]. Stored seed should be sown in the spring in a greenhouse and can be slow to germinate, sometimes taking a year or more. A period of cold stratification might help to speed up the process. Sow the seed thinly, and allow the seedlings to grow on without disturbance for their first year, giving occasional liquid feeds to ensure that they do not become mineral deficient. When the plants are dormant in the autumn, divide up the small corms, planting 2 - 3 in each pot, and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for a further year, planting out when dormant in the autumn. Division of the corms in summer after flowering[200]. Larger corms can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up the smaller corms and grow them on for a year in a cold frame before planting them out.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Mill.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Thu Apr 3 2008

You have advise on how to best plant this species? Shame on you! I am looking for a way to kill it. This is an invasive species and is taking over several forests in the Corvallis area. Please do not use this plant as an ornamental, KILL IT!

Marinella Zepigi   Tue Jun 10 2008

Acta plantarum forum botanico Description - Photos - Arum italicum Mill. subsp. italicum

   Nov 8 2011 12:00AM

Be very carful when planting as this plant will invade the garden. It is very hard to eradicate once established. It competes with other plants and can grow in all types of soil and weather conditions. I have sprayed it with Roundup and Erase with no joy and have resorted to digging and sieving the soil to remove any corms. My advise DO NOT PLANT.

This pdf is pretty accurate in how it describes this plant as being difficult to control once established. Herbicides in our region (PNW) have shown variable results in controlling established populations; digging is not an option unless there are very very few plants.   Jan 4 2014 12:00AM

Please note that this plant is considered an invasive weed in PNW, and planting growing should not be encouraged. Thank you Note: This is in Washington, D.C. Please check your area for it's weed potential there
National Park Service - Eradication team

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Subject : Arum italicum  
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