STRANGE PLANT

In my garden I have a strange plant which I have been unable to name.

It has large green leaves with white markings in spring and then in about summer some very large stalks appear, about 12 - 14 inches tall and then a topping of about 12 inches of clustered red berries, which are still there.

Please, what is this.

 

any chance of a photo?
does it have any flowers? if so, what colour are they? and are they scented?
welcome to Gardeners' Corner

 

Just a guess, sounds like some kind of arum.

 

I would agree with Pete, it sounds like an Arum to me - green and white stripped leaves, starts as a vertically curled shoot before opening. If its the one I'm thinking of, very vigorous.

 

Hi Wonkeyeye.
Just to add to Pete and Fran's comments, this could be Arum italicum "Marmoratum", which is probably the most common arum found in gardens. Are the leaves markings like large veins on the leaf ? The flowers of this variety are white with a green hint and appear in Spring. Can you remember what the flowers were like ?

 

Definitely sounds like arum italicum 'Marmoratum' or arum italicum var.pictum to use its alternative name.

I have just harvested the seeds of mine, but wearing rubber gloves as the berries can be a skin irritant, then washed them in water to remove the flesh.

Now drying them off in the greenhouse, ready to sow. The books say they come true to seed, so hopefully i shall have more this year!

Lionel

 

Sorry to say this, but I think you all may be wrong. This plant does not flower, just big leaves and long stalks with orange berries in summer and into Autumn.

 

Mmmmmm - there has got to be a flower for fruit to form. Insignificant it may be - but flower it must - or you have a wonderful plant discovery :D .

 

wonkeyeye, Frans right no plant fruits without flowering first, the thing is if it is an arum the flowers are enclosed in what known as a spathe, its leaf like sometimes coloured and sometimes green, they usually appear in spring. Have a look here.
http://www.paghat.com/arum.html

 

In the wild Arum italicum are known as Itallian Lords and Ladies or Cucko's Pint. The flower is encased in a green spathe which splits open to reveal a yellowish creamy white spike covered with minute flowelets. As the plant matures the berries form, first green then turning orange and finally a bright red. The whole plant, (especially berries) is poisonous.

"Marmoratum" is a cultivor very popular with flower arrangers for the foliage and would be difficult to mistake if this is what you have.

Linky to pics.

 

I have to confess before seeing the later postings I had considered it to be arum maculatum as it reminded me from Wonkeyeye's initial description of the Lords and Ladies as more commonly known, the berries of which are highly poisoness.

 

Oh frogesque you beat me to it!

 

To you all.

You were right after all. Thank you for the valuable information. I now know my plant to be ARUM ITALICUM MARMARATUM.

You say it poisonous but something in my garden is silly enough to nibble on it.

Once agan, thank you for finding this for me.

I will mark it immediately.

Thanks.