Arisarum

Arisarum proboscideum

Little arrow-head shaped leaves, with the flowers hiding underneath. These are actually white tubed, purple striped spathes, with an elongated tip that protrudes out from beyond the leaves, and look like the tail of a mouse hiding below the foliage.

The "mice" are made in abundance in April but by August the plant has died away, to tiny rhizomes. Hardy.

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Arisarum simorrhinum

This is the North African representative of the genus, recently also found in Southern Spain.

In this species the spathe is larger and lies closer to the ground and often parallel to it. The spadix is noticeably thickened, rounded at the end, shorter and as a rule the colours are greens and olives, rather than the whites and browns of its relatives. Similar but clearly different!

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Arisarum vulgare

This is the most widespread of the three species in the genus, although it is seldom seen in cultivation.

Plain deep-green leaves are borne with the Arisaema-like inflorescences, in the spring. These have a white spathe, striped tan with this colour extending to the outside, and lipped-edge, of the spathe. The spadix is deep brown and hangs down rudely from the opening of the spathe.

In summer the whole plant dies away to a small rhizome. Growth restarts in the autumn.

Very sunny, lime soil with good drainage.

Picture &cop; Orchi, at Wikimedia, with thanks.

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