arum maculatum

Meaning

A perennial woodland plant native to Europe and the Mediterranean, characterized by its spadix enclosed in a pale, leaf-like spathe and its clusters of bright red berries that appear in late summer.

Examples

• The arum maculatum thrives in the shaded, nutrient-rich soil of the ancient forest floor.
• Hikers are often warned not to ingest the berries of the arum maculatum, as they contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals.