A weed or not a weed?

Discussion in 'Identification Area' started by babafang, May 9, 2011.

  1. babafang

    babafang Apprentice Gardener

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    Hello there - I'm new to the forum and have been puzzling over a plant in my flower bed - the bed was only created last year and I planted it up - however, this I did not plant (as least, I don't recall doing so!!)

    I left it initially because I have a vague recollection of moving a poppy? BUT is this a poppy of some kind?

    ALSO - This is growing under a tree (little silver birch) and at first i thought it was a hosta of some kind - today i noticed this 'flower' which looks a bit like a calla lily! I wondered if anyone knew what this is?!

    Many thanks!
     

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  2. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Blue-ish/Silvery leaved one in left picture looks like a poppy
     
  3. Lorna

    Lorna Gardener

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    The bluish one looks like a poppy to me. The other one I think is cuckoo pint, or lords and ladies or one of its other names. Latin name arum maculatum. It is a wild flower, but pretty, and has vivid orange 'berries' which are extremely poisonous. Can also cause allergic reactions in some people.
     
  4. Spruce

    Spruce Glad to be back .....

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    Lorna is the winner

    Spruce
     
  5. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    Neither are weeds:

    1) The seeds can be used in baking bread & rolls - that's why I grow these. Dried pods/stems can also be used for flower arranging.

    2) The tops are poisonous, but the roots can be eaten if treated correctly Arum maculatum / Cuckoopint or Lords-and-Ladies as a foodstuff I find them an attractive spring plant in shady/wild areas.

    are you reading this Ziggy?
     
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    • babafang

      babafang Apprentice Gardener

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      Ooo thank you very much!

      Yay regarding the Poppy - and am now in smug mode as I had suspected that... the leaves are really, well almost like cabbage leaves in texture! I will try to remember to photograph it in flower...... I recollect a light pink, very full, almost peony like flower - it was growing in blueberry patch and I recall digging it up and maybe moving it - but my memory......well I just forget!


      Not sure what to do about the other one "cuckoo pint" "lords & ladies" I do wonder where the name originates from? Anyway.....so I have a 5 year old daughter - who is constantly being warned that we never ever eat without washing hands if we pick anything and under no circumstances to ever eat anything picked!! BUT if it is that toxic, should I remove it? It's between the little silver birch and a small pear tree.... I would point it out to my daughter and emphasis the danger, as it's shaded and pretty much out of site, hopefully it will go undisturbed..... is it dangerous to other animals? pet cats, or hedgehogs, birds and other garden visiting wildlife?
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      The lords and ladies are very attractive when the seeds develop:
      [​IMG]
      i.e. a bit of a magnet for kiddies. We have them growing under our hedges and our kids never bothered them when they were little (after being told they were deadly), but if you have doubts your daughter might go for it them hoik it out.
       
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      :D Of course :dbgrtmb: Root is full of starch, Elizabethans used it to stiffen their ruffs (Oo err Mrs:heehee:)

      I was told the berries were poisonous at about 2/3 years old & that was good enough warning for me.

      Mind you, I was also told about the red mushroom with the white spots & we all know what happened there:DOH:
       
    • babafang

      babafang Apprentice Gardener

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      I took my daughter out to show her this, explained the dangers and that I didn't want her to even touch the leaves. She admitted that she really wanted to touch the flower 'stamen' bit - she said it looked like a lovely lily - but that now she would definitely not touch or eat :-) I trust her and we constantly discuss the dangers of eating berries etc. I just say they are for birds and not safe for us to eat - plus it wouldn't be fair to the birds to take their food!

      Many thanks again! I've lots of other questions brewing..... :o
       
    • Chopper

      Chopper Do I really look like a people person?

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      I don't think the second is a native wild cuckoo pint, Cuckoo pint has a purple stamen thingy and its leaves are not heavily variated like the one in the picture and are not so arrow shaped. I think this is Italian lords and ladies Arum italicum subspecies italicum. Introduced intp southern britian by gardeners. :)
      Mrs Chopper
       
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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        I agree with Mrs Chopper

        Definitely arum italicum :dbgrtmb:

        We have large areas of them in our garden. The leaves look very effective in a shady area and the berries should be a deep red.
         
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        • Lad

          Lad Gardener

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          Onopordum acanthium (Scotch Thistle) and Arum italicum (Italian Arum)
           
        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Could be onopordium but looks a bit more like a poppy like this

          [​IMG]
           
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          • Phil A

            Phil A Guest

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            Hey Mrs Chopper,

            Good point, with the veining on the leaves :thumbsup: What have the Romans ever done for us ?
             
          • Kristen

            Kristen Under gardener

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            Ground elder? :(
             
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