Arum maculatum
(Redirected from Naked boys)
Arum maculatum is a common woodland plant species of the Araceae family. It is widespread across temperate northern Europe and is known by an abundance of common names including wild arum, lords-and-ladies, and jack-in-the-pulpit. The purple spotted leaves of Arum maculatum appear in the spring (April–May) followed by the flowers borne on a poker shaped inflorescence called a spadix. The purple spadix is partially enclosed in a pale green spathe or leaf-like hood. The flowers are hidden from sight, clustered at the base of the spadix with a ring of female flowers at the bottom and a ring of male flowers above them.
Description[edit | edit source]
Arum maculatum is a perennial herb growing from a corm. It has 5-8 leaves that are either arrow-shaped or trifoliate. The leaves are usually dark green but often have dark purple blotches. The inflorescence consists of a greenish-white spathe, which encloses a purple spadix. The spadix produces a foul smell to attract flies, which pollinate the flowers.
Distribution and habitat[edit | edit source]
Arum maculatum is native to Europe and western Asia. It is found in woodlands, hedgerows, and in shady places. The plant prefers moist, well-drained soils and is often found in the understory of deciduous trees.
Uses[edit | edit source]
While all parts of the plant contain needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate which cause intense irritation to the skin and mucous membranes, Arum maculatum has been used in traditional medicine. The corm has been used as a poultice for bruises and rheumatism. However, it is not commonly used today due to the risk of irritation.
Toxicity[edit | edit source]
Arum maculatum is toxic to humans and animals if ingested. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause severe mouth and throat irritation if eaten. Symptoms of poisoning include burning and swelling of lips, mouth, and tongue, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
This flora-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
