About Arum orientale M.Bieb.
Arum orientale M.Bieb. produces plain green leaves in autumn. In late spring, flowers develop on a poker-shaped inflorescence called a spadix, which is partially enclosed by a pale green, leaf-like spathe that often has purple spotting. The interior of the spathe can be greenish, or range from dull purple to brownish in color. Flowers are hidden from view, clustered at the base of the spadix: a ring of female flowers sits at the bottom, with a ring of male flowers positioned above them. Above the male flowers is a ring of hairs that forms an insect trap. Insects are drawn to the spadix by its foul odor and a temperature that is warmer than the surrounding air. Trapped beneath the ring of hairs, insects get coated with pollen from the male flowers before escaping. They then carry this pollen to the spadices of other plants, where they pollinate the female flowers. The spadix itself is mid-to pale purple. In late spring and early summer, the female flowers at the lower ring develop into a cluster of bright red berries. These berries remain visible after the spathe and other leaves have withered away, and range from bright red to orange in color. These attractive berries are extremely poisonous. They contain saponin oxalates, which have needle-shaped crystals that irritate the skin, mouth, tongue, and throat. Consumption leads to throat swelling, difficulty breathing, burning pain, and upset stomach. However, the berries have an acrid taste, and eating them causes an almost immediate tingling sensation in the mouth, so large amounts are rarely consumed and serious harm is unusual. Where both Arum orientale and Arum maculatum occur, the two species are easily confused. Arum orientale has a much more limited distribution than Arum maculatum, and several features distinguish the two: the tuber of Arum maculatum is horizontal, while the tuber of Arum orientale is discoid. The coloring of the spathe interior is another distinct characteristic of Arum orientale. Across its range, Arum orientale grows in deciduous woodland or on the edges of coniferous woodland. It prefers partial shade and somewhat moist growing conditions.
