Italian Arum, Portland arrowroot, Large cuckoo pint
Arum italicum
Family: Araceae
What it is like
A bulb plant. It grows 25-30 cm high and spreads 15-20 cm wide. The leaves are glossy and with white veins. They have wavy edges and are shaped like a spear head. The flower has a hood like spathe around a central column. The spathe is 15-30 cm long. It droops at the pointed tip. The fruit are bright orange berries. They are in a fruiting spike 10-15 cm long.
It should not be eaten in large quantities. There are 12-26 Arum species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It suits moist shaded places. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Croatia, Egypt, Europe, France, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, North America, Portugal, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay
How it is used for food
The running rootstock is gathered, dried and ground to a powder then mixed with the flour of barley or wheat. The root is cooked and eaten. It is cooked for a long time in several changes of water. The leaves are chopped and mixed with egg to prepare an omelette. CAUTION: This plant is poisonous.
Edible parts
Root, tuber, corm, leaves
How it is grown
Plants are grown from tubers. They are planted 5-7.5 cm deep. Plants are spaced 20-30 cm apart.
Its other names
Local names
Aro, Karduw, Konjska blitva, Laški kačnik, Nivik