WILD ARUM

WILD ARUM, LORDS- ANDLADIES or CUCKOO PINT
(Arum maculatum)
Wild arum is common throughout the whole of
the British Isles as far north as the Firth of Forth,
and common throughout Ireland.
It is a common perennial plant of hedgerows,
hedgebanks, deciduous woodland, scrub and
wooded cliffs by the sea. It grows on moist
humus rich acid or base rich soils.
The large flowers are produced in April and May
and consist of a hood surrounding the male and
female flower parts. The flower emits an odour
which attracts owl-midges which then enter the
floral chamber, and pass by a ring of stiff bristles
which prevents them from escaping.
The midges then pollinate the flower while they
are trapped inside, and get covered in pollen, and
later escape when the bristles wilt.
The seeds form inside red berries that are green
at first and then turn red when ripe. The berries
are poisonous.