Wildflower Spot – August 2014 John Clayton Chapter of the Native Society

Peltandra virginica

By Helen Hamilton, Past-president of the John Clayton ArrowChapter, VNPS Arum

In early summer, the most conspicuous part leaf-blades, up to 10 inches long. They are on longof this stalks plant from are thea tuberous arrowhead-shaped root. In late fleshy summer and early fall the leaves begin to fade, becoming dormant over the winter.

the Arum Family - Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)The flowers Skunk are similar Cabbage to other (Symplocarpus members of foetidus) and Golden Club (Orontium aquaticum). A tapering, leaf-like bract (spathe) Piedmont region of Virginia and ranges from with wavy edges is curled around a yellowish southern to , west to Michigan, rod-like spike (spadix). This is the reproductive ) is similar, but with a white spathe, andMissouri does andnot growTexas. in Spoonflower our area. The ( range of inconspicuous.part – the female flowers are at the base of the spadix with the male flowers above, all tiny and south to Florida and . spoonflower is from eastern North Carolina The genus name comes from the Greek pelte, lyingIn late in summer wet ground. the flowers Inside become are numerous a club- black- “small shield,” and aner, “stamen,” referring to greenshaped berries appendage which at spill the outend and of the are flower primarily stalk the shield-like contour of the stamens. While disbursed by water. the roots are rich in starches, they contain crystals of calcium oxalate which cause intense Growing in swamps and shallow waters, the burning. Capt. John Smith said “Raw is no better plant survives with special tissue that allows than poison,” and “it will prickle and grate the oxygen from its leaves to reach down to the throat extreamely” unless roasted, sliced, and roots. Arrow Arum requires wet soils and is dried in the sun. The name “Tuckahoe,” was easily grown in standing water to 6 inches deep used by the Algonquin who ate the plant after or in consistently moist boggy soils, in full sun prolonged cooking or drying which destroys the to part shade. It occurs in the Coastal Plain and crystals. v

Photo:Arrow Arum () taken by Phillip Merritt For more information about native visit www.vnps.org.