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Arum italicum, large cuckoopint
Arum italicum, large cuckoopint
Summary
This cultivated species of arum lily shares many of the names and properties of the woodland Arum maculatum.
Family
Araceae
Meaning of the Name
Arum
From the Greek word ‘aron’ which is variously described as meaning
‘climbing’ or ‘poisonous plant’.
italicum
simply means ‘of’ or ‘from Italy’ and the plant is said to be a
native of southern Europe. It is not clear, however, whether
the plant was named as coming from Italy or because the pattern on
the leaves was thought to be like Italian marble.
Common Names and Synonyms
Italian lords & ladies, large cuckoopint, marbled arum, the willy lily, Aaron's pen, Aaron's staff
How Poisonous, How Harmful?
Toxic component is calcium oxalates. These needle-shaped crystals can irritate the skin, mouth, tongue, and throat, resulting in throat swelling, breathing difficulties, burning pain, and stomach upset.
Though the orange berries are quite attractive, their acrid taste and the tingling in the mouth which begins quite quickly, mean that large amounts are rarely ingested and serious harm is unusual.
Incidents
No separately reported incidents but see Arum maculatum.
Folklore and Facts
Being a relatively recent plant most often found cultivated in gardens rather than growing in woodlands, the large cuckoopint shares most of its stories with its older sibling.
