Common Arisarum, Friar's cowl
Arisarum vulgare

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A tuber plant. It keeps growing from year to year. It can form colonies. There is one leaf which is yellow green. The blade is spearhead shaped. It is 5-13 cm long. The leaf stalk is mottled. It is 30 cm long. The flower appears with or above the leaves. The bract around the flower is hooded and green. It is 2.5-5 cm long and can be striped. The fruit stalk is fleshy and green. It is slightly curved and shows above the bract. The fruit are green berries.

There are 3 Arisarum species. Inorganic composition in parts per million: N = 9,700. P = 1390. Na = 1,380. K = 12,300. Ca = 3.380. Mg = 1,750. Z = Ø. Cu = 5.2. Fe = 79.6. Mn = 7.1. B = 7.9. Al = 19.8. Si = 179.0. Ti = 1.7. Sr = 179.0. Ba = 6.1. Sn = 4.7. Pb = 16.8.

Where it is found

It occurs in the Egyptian Mediterranean coast in non salty depressions. It is often in partly shaded locations. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Australia, Balkans, Canary Island, Egypt, Europe, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Portugal, Spain, Tasmania, Tunisia

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. The starch of the root is used for adding to bread flour after removing the acrid element.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Corm, tuber, root, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It is grown from tubers.

Its other names

Local names

Imi, Irni, Larus, Yerni

Synonyms

Arisarum arisarum (L.) Huth; Arisarum australe Rich.; Arum incurvatum Lam.; and several others