Lords and ladies

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cuckoo Pint
• Lords-And-Ladies
• Wild Arum
• Adam-and-Eve
• Cuckoo-pint
• Jack-in-the-pulpit
• Wake Robin

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Arum maculatum var. pyrenaeum
• Arum vulgare var. immaculatum
• Arum maculatum var. tetrellii
• Arum orientale subsp. amoenum
• Arum pyrenaeum
• Arum maculatum f. flavescens
• Arum malyi
• Arum maculatum subsp. pyrenaeum
• Arum maculatum subvar. pyrenaeum
• Arum maculatum subvar. roseum
• Arum maculatum f. roseum
• Arum maculatum f. scolopendriforme
• Arum maculatum f. spathulatum
• Arum maculatum var. tetrelii
• Arum maculatum f. tetrelii
• Arum maculatum var. vulgare
• Arum maculatum var. zeleborii
• Arum maculatum var. karpatii
• Arum maculatum subvar. malyi
• Arum maculatum f. immaculatum
• Arum maculatum var. immaculatum
• Arum maculatum subvar. immaculatum
• Arum heldreichii
• Arum italicum var. amoenum
• Arum italicum subsp. byzantinum
• Arum italicum var. byzantinum
• Arum immaculatum
• Arisarum maculatum
• Arum zeleborii
• Arum vulgare
• Arum maculatum var. heldreichii
• Arum maculatum var. malyi
• Arum alpinum subsp. pyrenaeum
• Arum vulgare var. albovenosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatalees, falling into the family Araceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Arum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends through the coastal and inland landscapes of Denmark and Great Britain. It can also be found growing within the natural habitats of Ireland. Moving further north, the species is documented to inhabit parts of Sweden. Finally, its distribution reaches into Middle Europe, specifically within the borders of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Arum maculatum is intrinsically linked to its preference for shaded, nutrient-rich environments, primarily thriving within the stable microclimates of deciduous forest ecosystems. As a forest-dwelling species, it occupies the herbaceous layer of the understory, where it benefits from the dappled sunlight and high humidity levels characteristic of woodland floors. The plant's survival is closely tied to the leaf litter and organic-rich soils found in these habitats, which provide the necessary moisture retention and nutrient availability for its tuberous rhizomes. By inhabiting these sheltered forest settings, Arum maculatum avoids the desiccation risks of open landscapes, instead utilizing the seasonal rhythms of the canopy to regulate its growth and reproductive cycles.

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Arum maculatum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple years. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically classified as a geophyte, which means it survives unfavorable seasons by retreating to underground storage organs. As a deciduous species, it sheds its visible foliage annually, entering a period of dormancy before regrowing from its subterranean structures during the favorable growing season.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Arum maculatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. As a terrestrial plant, it lacks climbing mechanisms, instead maintaining a self-supporting structure. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.45 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.242 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.45 m

Plant height mean:

0.242 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Arum maculatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes common to many temperate forest floor species. The plant exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 104.96667 cm², reflecting its structural development in shaded or semi-shaded habitats. It is a non-carnivorous species, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Furthermore, its leaf morphology is defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 332.6 cm²/g, a physiological metric that provides insight into its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies regarding light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

104.96667 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

332.6 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Arum maculatum is characterized by a complex biotic process that relies heavily on sexual reproduction, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in May, during which the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome. Specifically, pollination is mediated by insects, with flies playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit classified as a berry. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit significant variability in mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.00454 g to a maximum of 0.51 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.0932833335 g. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed after being ingested by animals, facilitating the plant's spread within its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.51 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0932833335 g

Seed mass min:

0.00454 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Arum maculatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Chemicals

Arum maculatum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CONIINE, Flavonoid, Flavonoids, Tannins, Tocopherols.

CONIINE

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. Biotechnic & histochemistry : official publication of the Biological Stain Commission

Flavonoids

1. Food science & nutrition

Tannins

1. Food science & nutrition

Tocopherols

1. Food science & nutrition

Activities

Arum maculatum has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Emetic, Hepatoprotective, Paralytic.

Antioxidant

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Antimicrobial

1. Food science & nutrition

Emetic

1. Dr. Duke

Hepatoprotective

1. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Paralytic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Arum maculatum has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include digestive system disorders, liver cirrhosis, liver diseases, ulcerative colitis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations