Nomenclature

Species name:

Arisarum vulgare   Targ.-Tozz.

Author(s):

Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti;
   Italy, 1712-1783

Common names:

Friar's Cowl, Arison

Maltese name:

Garni tal-Pipi

Plant Family:

Araceae   (Arum Family)

Name Derivation:

Arisarum = Name first given by Dioschorides for A. vulgare; (Greek).
vulgare = Common or ordinary, since it is found in abundant numbers. (Latin)

Synonyms:

Arisarum australe, Arum arisarum, Arum calyptrale, Balmisa vulgaris, Typhonium cochinchinense.

Remarks:

-

Morphology

Specifications & Description

Life Cycle:

Perennial.

Growth Form:

GEOPHYTE (Bulbous/Rhizomous plants)

Habitat:

Grassy and rocky ground, maquis, weedy garigue, abandoned fields, wasteland, disturbed ground and shaded woody areas. Likes partial shade and moist soil.

Frequency:

Very Common

Localities in Malta:

Very Common everywhere. Plenty at Buskett woodland, many valleys (eg Wied il-Ghasel), Chadwick Lakes, and abandoned fields in Gozo.

Plant Height:

10-30cm.

Flowering Period:

Nov - Mar

Protection in Malta:

Not Protected by Law (LN200/2011 or LN311/2006)

Red List 1989:

Not listed in the Flora section of the National Red Data Book (Lanfranco, 1989)

Poison:

Yes (Calcium Oxylate crystals).

This perennial monocot have a peculiar appearance due to its distinctive pulpit-shaped flower, a characteristic of the ARACEAE family that Arisarum vulgare belongs to. The plant grows from an underground tuberous rhizome - a creeping underground stem which give rise to several leaves and flowers in Autumn and Winter. Since the underground stem lives all year round, the plant is described as perennial, but actually, during the hottest period of the year (late Spring and Summer), there are no aerial leaves or flowers left.

Every leaf and flower are supported by a single, unbranched, glabrous stalk that grows directly from the underground tuber. The flower stalks, have purple-brown spots or small longitudinal streaks, especially at the lower part. These turn gradually to green up the stalk. Leaf stalks are usually green spotted. The length of the stalk varies, depending light conditions, soil depth or/and competitive vegetation, but usually grow between 8cm up to 25cm high.

Every stalk support a single, glabrous, dark-green leaf about 8cm to 18cm long and 6cm-8cm wide. Sizes vary considerably according to environmental conditions. The leaves have a general oval shape but their base ends with two conspicuous auricles (lobes) which can be found either rounded (forming a heart-shaped leaf base) or sometimes pointed (forming an arrow-shaped leaf base).

The complex flower consists of a tubular shaped structure - the spathe - with a broad opening from which a club shaped structure, the spadix or spike protrudes out. The spathe is botanically defined as a modified bract enclosing the flowering spike or spadix inside. The colour of the upper part of the spathe is completely purple-brown which gradually turns to an interesting pattern with longitudinal stripes, speckles and spots towards its base. Some flowers seems to lack this pigmentation forming green patterns instead.

The spadix outer part is generally brown, light brown or sometimes green, but its colour fades away down the interior of the spathe. The lower part inside bears the true flowers, with the male flowers separated from the female flowers benneath. The male flowers are small (1-2mm) C-shaped, pale-yellow sacs which produce large amounts of pollen. They are subtended out from the spadix by a short sturdy supporting structure. Numerous male flowers are found all around the spadix perimiter. On the other hand, there are only about 10 female flowers embedded at the base of the spike below the male flowers, and lying at one side of the spadix perimeter. They are roundish small structures (2-3mm), usually with dark-purple stripes and a short snout-like style and stigma at the tip.

The fruit of these plants are green, stout, cylindrical, barrel-shaped berries. About 4-12 fruit per stalk are produced. The stalk of berries tend to fall horizontally to the ground and so becomes hidden by the foliage of other plants. Each berry holds between 2-6 pale brown seeds (usually 4) which on a closer examination, they have numerous parallel longitudinal ridges. No seed dispersal mechanisim is known.

Information and Details

Origin, Distribution and Ecology

The plant have originated and is native to the Mediterranean region   [WWW-27] The distibution of the species is reported in the following countries:  [WWW-191] Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France (incl. Corsica), Greece (incl. Crete), Israel, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Portugal (incl. Azores), Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Balearics, Canary Is.), Syria, Tunisia, Turkey.

The species is a geophyte which grows in warm temperate scrub and woodland; on stony ground in maquis, between rocks or under trees and shrubs.  [WWW-191] In Malta it can extend in ruderal areas, disturbed places and abandoned fields and is a common wild plant.  [SM]

Cultivation details

Prefers a woodland soil or a sandy loam with leaf mould  [1] . Grows well in shady rather moist places  [1] .

A Mediterranean plant, it commences growth in the autumn and, since the leaves are not very hardy, the plant is best grown under protection  [90] . It should succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of the country, if grown in a sheltered woodland. The plant is hardy to about -10°C for short periods but should be given a good mulch in the winter  [200] . The plant becomes dormant in spring/summer  [200] .

Edible Uses

Root - cooked. The acrid juice should first be removed by thorough and repeated washing leaving behind a nutritious and innoxious residue  [2, 105, 177] . Thorough drying or cooking will also destroy any harmful elements of this root   [KF] . The root is frequently used as an emergency food in times of scarcity, it is about the size of a walnut  [2] . This root is consumed in North Africa during seasons of food scarcity

One report suggests that the leaves might be edible  [177] . If they are they must be well cooked first   [KF] . The rhizomes of many species of the Araceae, contain a large quantity of starch and are used as food after suitable preparation.   [WWW-27]

Medicinal Uses

Various documents state that this plant has been used as a medicinal plant long time ago, but I did not find any details for what is was used for. Also, the plant is poisonous and so it has limited medicinal uses.   [SM]

Other Uses

A good ground-cover plant for a shady place   [1]

Poison Effects

Many plants in the Araceae family contain a poisonous watery juice which may be rendered non-toxic by heat.   [WWW-27] Most species, including the Arisarum vulgare   [KF] , contain bundles of minute needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate (known as raphides) which are responsible at least in part for the irritant properties of these plants when they are damaged and brought into contact with the skin or mucous membranes. The presence of other irritant compounds is also suspected.   [WWW-27] . The plant's calcium oxalate crystals cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten but they are easily neutralised by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water   [KF] ,   [65] .

The irritant effects of the Arisarum vulgare have been known for centuries. Ramazzini's account of genital dermatitis in an apothecary appears to have been plagiarised from Dioscorides   [WWW-27]

An online abstract from a study performed by Rakba N et al reveals how certain alkaloid from the plants' tubers are toxic to human liver cells.  [297] . The abstract reads:

" Toxicity of B-Gugaine, a pyrrolidine alkaloid extracted from the tubers of Arisarum vulgare, was studied in three different liver cell culture models:
(1) the rat hepatocyte primary culture;
(2) a liver epithelial cell line; and
(3) the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2.

Cytotoxicity was evaluated by LDH release, MTT reduction and MDA production. DNA fragmentation was analysed by flow cytometry or DNA gel-electrophoresis. In hepatocyte and epithelial cell cultures, drug toxicity appeared at 30 microM and was evaluated by an increase in LDH release, a decrease in MTT reduction and a higher level of MDA production. b-Gugaine concentrations lower than 30 microM did not induce changes in these parameters. In HepG2 cells, b-Gugaine treatment also induced LDH release at concentrations of 40 and 50 microM. DNA fragmentation, analysed in the HepG2 cell line by flow cytometry, was observed in cultures exposed to 50 microM b-Gugaine. However, using DNA gel-electrophoresis, we demonstrated that lower b-Gugaine concentrations (10, 20 and 30 microM) also induced DNA damage. Our results show that: (1)b-Gugainee induces an important hepatotoxicity; (2)hematologic toxicity is not mediated by a metabolic derivative; and hematologic b-Gugaine induces a significant DNA damage. Therefore, our data suggest that the a hematologic b-Gugaine contained in Arisarum vulgare may be involved in the toxicologic symptoms observed after consumption of this plant tubers by humans and animals."   [297]

Another abstract, this time from M. Lamkadem et al   [298] proves the cytotoxicity and the electrophysiological effects against MRC-5 fibroblasts of 2 alkaloids extracted from the plant. Their abstract says:

" The cytotoxicity and the electrophysiological effects against MRC-5 fibroblasts of 2-alkylpyrrolidine, (-)-R-b-gugaine   [1] , a natural alkaloid, extracted from Arisarum vulgare Targ., (Araceae) were studied. This compound showed a cytotoxic potential against MRC-5 fibroblasts at 10 µg/ml. The electrophysiological study of this molecule on MRC-5 cells was carried out using the technique of patch-clamp and showed that (-)-R-b-gugaine   [1] has a sub-maximum effect on the outward potassium (current) at the concentration of 1 µM (0.281 µg/ml). In this study we show that R-b-gugaine   [1] activates the outwards potassium (current) activated by intracellular calcium. "  [298]

Chemical composition of Plant

Inorganic composition in parts per million:
N = 9,700.
P = 1390.
Na = 1,380.
K = 12,300.
Ca = 3.380.
Mg = 1,750
. Zn = Ø.
Cu = 5.2.
Fe = 79.6.
Mn = 7.1.
B = 7.9.
Al = 19.8.
Si = 179.0.
Ti = 1.7.
Sr = 179.0.
Ba = 6.1.
Sn = 4.7.
Pb = 16.8.        [WWW-33]

Other species of Arisarum

Arisarum proboscideum L. differs from Arisarum vulgare in having its mouth enclosed in a long tapering end (like a tail of a mouse). Distribution: SW. Spain, C. & S. Italy.  [WWW-191]
Arisarum simorrhinum Durand is closely related to A. vulgare but this forms flowers below the level of leaves, have stouter spathes, and the spadix terminates in a swollen - club-shaped structure. Distribution: Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco.  [WWW-191]

Pollination

Several species of the Araceae family have a special pollination mechanism. The flower emits a particular perfume or scent to lure the pollinator insect. This includes stinking scents to attract flies. Several species of this family, for example the Cryptocoryne spp. have a valve at the neck of the spathe tube which traps inside the visiting insect at the base, where the flower sex organs are located. Pollination is hence carried out during the insect struggle to escape. Usually it dies in the flower as escape is impossible.

However, in the case of Arisarum vulgare, there is no trapping valve inside the spathe, and hence pollination seems to be more 'firendly' and any unspecific insect visiting the flower (for example for shelter or moisture) can pollinate freely the flowers. Moreover, this species does not have any strong or particular scent. It is never visited by bees and wasps, since it lacks nectar or any kind of reward.

Personal Observations

Green flowers and maroon flowers
The species produces flowers in two colours, maroon (the most common) and completely green. Intermediates with pale brown, or seldom dirty-orange colours can be met. While on one hand, the green variety can be considerd as an albino per se (lack of the brown pigmentation resulting in green) it seems that the tendancy is that the green flowering variety is frequently found in plants that are completely in the shade, although no scientific proof has been found on this observation.

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