White Arrow Arum
Peltandra sagittifolia

Family: Araceae

What it is like

Peltandra sagittifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from May to June. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Non-alluvial swamps, especially on acid soils, and in shallow water at the edges of ponds.

South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Root - must be well cooked in order to destroy an acrimonious principle, see the notes above on toxicity. The root contains much farinaceous material and can weigh up to 2.7 kilos each. Fruit. No more details but caution is advised - see the notes above on toxicity.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Requires a wet lime-free humus-rich soil by the side of water or in shallow still or slowly flowing water in a sunny position. Plants are best grown in clumps.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer in pots of soil that are submerged to their rims in water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Stem cuttings rooted in wet mud in the summer.

Best place to grow: Pond; Bog Garden;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Wet, water

Things to keep in mind

The plant is rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of tiny needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

P. alba. Raf. P. glauca. (Ell.)Feay.