Common Name: Friar's Cowl

General Information

Arisarum vulgare is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing from an irregularly-shaped tuber with one or more growing points. Each growing point produces a single leaf up to 30cm tall with a flowering stem 30cm or more tall.
The plant has been harvested from the wild for local use as a food - it has often been used in times of scarcity but is little used at other times. The plant is often grown as an ornamental.

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[].

Botanical References

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Range

Mediterranean region from western Europe and western N. Africa to Turkey and the Levant

Habitat

Grassy places, open ground[] and rocky ground[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Arisarum vulgare is a Mediterranean plant, growing best in areas that experience mild winters with ample rain. It commences growth in the autumn flowering in the winter and then becoming dormant in the spring as the weather becomes hotter and rainfall virtually ceases. The plant can tolerate some frost, especially if grown in a woodland, surviving occasionall short-lived temperatures down to about -10°c[]. Outside of Mediterranean climates the plant is probably best grown under protection[].
Prefers a woodland soil or a sandy loam with leafmould[]. Grows well in shady rather moist places[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked. The acrid juice should first be removed by thorough and repeated washing leaving behind a nutritious and innoxious residue[, , ]. Thorough drying or cooking will also destroy any harmful elements of this root[]. The root is frequently used as an emergency food in times of scarcity, it is about the size of a walnut[].

One report suggests that the leaves might be edible[]. If they are they must be well cooked first[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

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

Other Uses

None known

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[].