Facts and benefits of Cuckoo Pint (Arum)

Cuckoo Pint (Arum) scientifically known as Arum maculatum is a common woodland plant species of the Araceae family. It is known by an abundance of common names including Snakeshead, adder’s root, adder’s meat, arum, wild arum, arum lily, lords-and-ladies, devils and angels, cows and bulls, cuckoo-pint, Adam and Eve, bobbins, naked boys, starch-root, wake robin, friar’s cowl sonsie-give-us-your-hand, cheese and toast and jack in the pulpit, bloody man’s finger, bobbin’ Joan, bobbing Jane, brown dragons, bulls and cows, calf’s foot, cobbler’s thumb, cocky baby, devil’s ladies and gentlemen. The plant is native to the Southern Europe and northern Africa as well as Turkey and Caucasus. Arum is from the Greek word ‘aron’ which is variously described as meaning ‘climbing’ or ‘poisonous plant’. Maculatum is ‘speckled’ after the spots which appear on the leaves.  Traditionally, these are supposed to be spots of Christ’s blood when the plant grew under the cross but the Latin ‘maculatus’ also means ‘pollute’, ‘taint’ and ‘dishonor’ as well as ‘spot’ so the name is more likely to be a result of the spots spoiling the look of the leaves. Similarly the name “lords-and-ladies” and other gender related names refer to the plant’s likeness to male and female genitalia symbolizing copulation.

Plant Description

Cuckoo Pint (Arum) is a shade-loving tuberous perennial that grows about 30-38cm tall. The plant is found growing in woods and along shaded ditches and hedgerows on calcareous soil. The plant prefers moist, well-drained and reasonably fertile soils, humus rich soil, and shady damp calcareous soil. The plant has large, deep, starchy root. In mature specimens the tuber may be as much as 400 mm below ground level. The plant only has a flower stem which is about finger thick and upright.

Root

Arum has large tuberous roots, somewhat resembling those of the Potato, oblong in shape, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, brownish externally, white within and when fresh, fleshy yielding a milky juice, almost insipid to the taste at first, but soon producing a burning and pricking sensation. The acridity is lost during the process of drying and by application of heat, when the substance of the tuber is left as starch. When baked, the tubers are edible, and from the amount of starch, nutritious. This starch of the root, after repeated washing, makes a kind of arrowroot, formerly much prepared in the Isle of Portland, and sold as an article of food under the name of Portland Sago, or Portland Arrowroot, but now obsolete. For this purpose, it was either roasted or boiled, and then dried and pounded in a mortar, the skin being previously peeled.

Leaves

Leaves are large about 45cm long, shiny ‘arrow’ shaped leaves that are dark green but can be variegated with white or purple patterning or spots.

Flower & Fruit

Flowers are borne on a poker-shaped inflorescence called a spadix, which is partially surrounded 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. Flowering normally takes place in spring (April–May).  

Above the male flowers is a ring of hairs forming an insect trap. Insects, especially owl-midges Psychoda phalaenoides, are attracted to the spadix by its faecal odor. The insects are trapped beneath the ring of hairs and are dusted with pollen by the male flowers before escaping and carrying the pollen to the spadices of other plants, where they pollinate the female flowers. The spadix may also be yellow, but purple is the more common.

In autumn, the lowest ring of flowers form a cluster of bright scarlet, attractive berries, which remain long after the leaves have withered away, and on their short, thick stem alone mark the situation of the plant. In spite of their very acrid taste, they have sometimes been eaten by children, with most injurious results, being extremely poisonous. One drop of their juice will cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat for hours. In the case of little children who have died from eating the berries, cramp and convulsions preceded death if no medical aid had been obtained.

Medical Use of Cuckoo Pint

Arum maculatum has a long history of medical use. While these do not provide cancer natural cures, it can help alleviate a range of different symptoms. The berries are highly toxic and should be avoided. The large tuberous root, however, has long been supposed to have medicinal powers. The root is full of starch and has been used in many ways. Some of the medicinal uses of Arum maculatum include:

1. Alleviate symptoms of sore throats

Arum maculatum is described to help alleviate the symptoms of sore throats. It is taken as a homeopathic remedy and the tincture helps to reduce swollen membranes.

2. Diuretic and stimulant

Root at one time was used as a diuretic and stimulant. It has dramatic and unpredictable results and this has meant that it is rarely used in this way now without supervision from a trained professional.

3. Topically applied

An ointment or tincture from the root has been used to help alleviate symptoms of rheumatism. It is applied to the skin, however given the extreme toxicity of the plant; this should be done with great care and professional advice sought first.

Traditional uses and benefits of Cuckoo Pint

• Cuckoo pint has been little used in herbal medicine and is generally not recommended for internal use.
• Root is diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, strongly purgative and vermifuge.
• Bruised fresh plant has been applied externally in the treatment of rheumatic pain.
• Liquid from the boiled bark has been used in the treatment of diarrhea.
• Homeopathic remedy is prepared from the root and leaves.
• It has been used in the treatment of sore throats.
• Homoeopathic tincture is prepared from the plant, and its root, which proves curative in diluted doses for a chronic sore throat with swollen mucous membranes and hoarseness, and likewise for a feverish sore throat.
• An ointment made by stewing the fresh sliced tuber with lard is stated to be an efficient cure for ringworm, though the fresh sliced tuber applied to the skin produces a blister.
• Juice of the fresh plant when incorporated with lard has also been applied locally in the treatment of ringworm.

Culinary Uses

• Root of the cuckoo-pint, when roasted well, is edible and when ground was once traded under the name of Portland sago.
• It was used like salep (orchid flour) to make saloop working classes drink popular before the introduction of tea or coffee.
• It was also used as a substitute for arrowroot.
• Tuber are cooked and used as a vegetable.
• Leaves must be well cooked.

Other Facts

• All parts of the plant can produce allergic reactions in many people and the plant should be handled with care.
• Arum maculatum is cultivated as an ornamental plant in traditional and woodland shade gardens.
• It can be stored fresh in a cellar in sand for up to a year or can be dried for later use.
• Starch from the root has been used as a laundry starch for hardening clothes.
• Its use is said to be very harsh on the skin, producing sores and blisters on the hands of the laundresses who have to use it.
• Powdered root makes a good and innocent cosmetic that can be used to remove freckles.
• Flowers emit a foul and urinous smell in order to attract midges for pollination.

Dosing considerations for Arum

Appropriate dose of arum depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for arum. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using

Precautions

• If prepared incorrectly, it can be highly toxic so should be prepared with due diligence and caution.
• Wild arum is poisonous and it is better to avoid contact with it.
• 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.
• Berries are the most toxic part of Arum maculatum and they can cause extreme discomfort if they are eaten.
• Juice from the berries will cause a burning sensation and medical advice should be sought if the berries are consumed.
• Root has poisonous chemicals that can cause a swollen tongue.
• These chemicals can also cause bloody vomiting and bloody diarrhea, which are signs of dangerous bleeding inside the body.
• It’s unsafe to take arum by mouth if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Ingestion of larger quantities can result in severe digestive upset; extreme difficulty breathing, rapid shallow gasps (dyspnea).
• If massive amounts are consumed the symptoms become much more severe with the addition of convulsions, renal failure, coma and death.
• When consumed, these plants cause an intense burning sensation of the mouth, throat, lips and tongue; excessive drooling, choking, gagging and potentially serious swelling of the throat that could cause difficulty or the inability to swallow (dysphagia).
• Symptoms can occur immediately or up to 2 hours after ingestion and may continue to occur for up to two weeks after ingestion.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=185363#null

http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Arum+maculatum

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/112462

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cucko122.html

https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2049/

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-16240

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ARMA29

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arum_maculatum

http://medicinalherbinfo.org/000Herbs2016/1herbs/arum/

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