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Arisarum vulgare - Targ-Tozz.

Common Name Friar's Cowl
Family Araceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards The plant contains calcium oxylate crystals. These cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten but they are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water[65].
Habitats Grassy places, open ground[45] and rocky ground[90].
Range S. Europe.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade
Arisarum vulgare Friar


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Orchi
Arisarum vulgare Friar
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Orchi

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Arisarum vulgare is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf from October to July, in flower in May. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root
Edible Uses:

Root - cooked. The acrid juice should first be removed by thorough and repeated washing leaving behind a nutritious and innoxious residue[2, 105, 177]. Thorough drying or cooking will also destroy any harmful elements of this root[K]. The root is frequently used as an emergency food in times of scarcity, it is about the size of a walnut[2]. One report suggests that the leaves might be edible[177]. If they are they must be well cooked first[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A good ground-cover plant for a shady place[1].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a woodland soil or a sandy loam with leafmould[1]. Grows well in shady rather moist places[1]. A Mediterranean plant, it commences growth in the autumn and, since the leaves are not very hardy, the plant is best grown under protection[90]. It should succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of the country, if grown in a sheltered woodland. The plant is hardy to about -10°c for short periods but should be given a good mulch in the winter[200]. The plant becomes dormant in spring/summer[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a shady part of the greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the spring if this is possible. Sow stored seed in early spring. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out when dormant in the summer once the tuber has reached a reasonable size. Division in spring after the plant dies down[1].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Egypt (Sinai), Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria (west), Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan EUROPE: Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica) AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria, Egypt (north), Libya (north), Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Targ-Tozz.

Botanical References

45200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Tue Dec 28 01:16:07 2004

This plant is found in Malta/Mediterranean basin/Europe

More comprehensive details, medicinal properties, uses, botanical data, plant description and photogallery of high resolutions photos of this plant can be seen on an interesting website about the wild plants of Malta: www.maltawildplants.com

Link: Malta Wild Plants Website and photography by Stephen Mifsud, Malta

Marinella Zepigi   Tue Jun 10 2008

Acta plantarum forum botanico Description - Photos - Arisarum vulgare Targ. Tozz

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