Nomenclature

Species name:

Arisarum vulgare   Targ. Tozz.

Author(s):

Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti;
   Italy, 1712-1783

General 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:

None

Remarks:

-

Botanical Data

Plant Description

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Habitat:

Grassy and rocky ground, garigue, field margins, wasteland. Likes partial shade and moist soil.

Frequency:

Very Common

Sources in Malta:

Very Common everywhere. Plenty at Buskett, Rabat, Mellieha and Mistra.

Plant Height:

20-40cm.

Flowering Time:

Nov - Mar

Poison:

Yes (Calcium Oxylate crystals)

This perennial monocotyledon have a peculiar appearance due to its distinctive pulpit-shaped, dark purple-brown 'flower' from which a curved tongue-like structure is seen protruding out. The plant grows from an underground tuberous rhizome hence a creeping underground stem which give rise to new stalked leaves and flowers each year. Since the underground stem lives all year round, the plant is described as perennial, but actually, during the hottest period of the year, there are no aerial leaves or flowers.

Every leaf and flower are supported by a single, unbranched 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. The stalks are glabrous, shiny, and have a slightly sweet taste. The length varies, depending light conditions, but usually grow between 25cm up to 40cm.

Every stalk support a single large leaf about 10 to 18cm long and 6-8cm wide. Sizes vary considerably according to environmental conditions. The leaves are fleshy, and have a general oval shape but their base have two auricles (lobes) at each side which are either rounded (heart shaped) or sometimes pointed (arrow shaped).

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 colour of the upper part of the spathe is completely purple-brown which gradually turns to an interesting longitudinal stripes and tiny spots pattern on a white background towards its base. Some flowers seems to lack this pigmentation and they are green and white instead. The spathe is botanically defined as a modified bract enclosing the flowering spike or spadix inside.

The spadix outer part is generally brown, light brown or sometimes green, but its colour fades away down the interior of the spathe. The inner, lower part bears the true flowers, hence the male flowers and further down at the base the female flowers. The male flowers are simply 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. There are plenty of male flowers. On the other hand, there are about 10 female flowers embedded at the base of the spike, hence below the male flowers. They are roundish small structures (2-3mm), usually dark-purple striped, with a short snout like structure projecting out, this being the small style and the stigma.

The seeds on these plants are developed in multiple, green, stout berries; about 4-12 per stalk. Although one can spot the unripe berries, it is rather difficult to find the ripe (dried) berries producing the seeds. 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.

Additional Information

Origin

The plant have originated and is native to the Mediterranean region   [WWW-27]

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]

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]

Personal Observations

Factors which may hinder the plant growth and distribution
A harmful competitor for this plant is undoubtfully the bulbous plant Oxalis pes-caprae - the Bermuda buttercup. After December the Bermuda buttercup can grow higher than and in larger amounts from the Friar's Cowl and hence reduce considerably the amount of direct sunlight reaching the plant's leaves. The buttercup is so densely populated that it surely means a threat for the monocot.

Another threat comes from people. Its strange flower form introduces curiosity in the passing by person and chances are that he would pick the flower up to observe it better. Both examples above will hinder the growth and distribution of the plant by seed dispersion if the flowers are continuously picked up or do not have enough energy and nutrients to develop. Fortunately this perennial can grow well by the extension of the underground stem, but this will not lead plant growth very far.

Pollination
Pollination is said to be by insects, including bees, but it is seldom to see an insect hovering and visiting the flower. However self pollination can easily take place since both male and female flowers are very near to each other inside the tubular spathe.

Photo Gallery

Flowers and leaves of plant in situ. Note how the species Oxalis pes-caprae is overgrowing the plant, which means less sunlight and food for the Arisarum species.

Tubular shaped flowers and heart-shaped leaves of plant.

Close up photo of flower and leaf of the plant.

Close up photo of flower in situ (side view). The flower structure is complexly pigmented in dark brown-purple with various symmetrical, longitudinal stripes and spots.

Large close up image of flower in situ.

Large close up image of flower in situ.

Photo of bud, having a tapering structure at the tip.

Close up photo of flower (front view). The flower really resembles the friar's cowl (= brown garment worn by friars which covered their head).

Some flowers are pigmented green instead of brown-purple. It maybe that the correct definition is that they lack the brown pigmentation instead of saying that they are "pigmented green".

Magnified scanned image of flower (side view).

Magnified scanned image of flower (front side of flower).

Magnified scanned image of flower (back side of flower).

Flower and large leaf of plant. This is the 'supposed' orientation of the plant, with the flowering stem passing between the leaf basal lobes (auricles), and pointing towards the leaf apex.

Dissection of flower to show its interior parts. The club shaped structure is called the spadix (or spike) and the specialised sheath forming a tube like flap around the spadix is called the spathe. The true male and female flowers are found down the spike.

Scanned image of spadix with the spathe dissected out. The pale yellow flowers are the male-reproductive organs. The female flowers, further down the spadix are not seen in this photo.

Close up scanned image of the spadix apex. This has no reproductive functions for the flower, unlike many who may think that it is the flower's stigma+style.

Close up image of the male flowers. They are just pollen sacks attached to the spike by a thick support structure. They produce pollen in large quantity.

Close up image of the true flowers of the plant attached to the spike. The female dark coloured flowers are found at the very base of the spike, located at a particular side, while the male pale yellow flowers are above and around all the spike circumference.

Close up image of the female flowers, which are much less in number from male flowers. They have a slightly swollen stigma, a short style and a spherical ovary embedded in the very base of the spike.

Photo of stem of flower in situ.

Scanned image of stalks, - the one on the left is a leaf stalk, and the other a flower stalk. The latter has more pronounced purple brown streaks and spots.

Image of large leaves in situ. Leaves may grow up to 18cm long, especially if they are located in the shade.

Scanned image of leaf. They are approximately oval in shape with rounded heart-shaped or pointed-arrow shaped lobes at the base. The network of parallel veins is also quite attractive.

Scanned image of whole plant including roots and part of the rhizome (taken by Herbaria virtual. - Universitat illes Balears).

Photo of seedling, consisting of just one leaf (monocotyledons).

Close up photo of fruit. This is the bright green type. usually the fruit is dark green with maroon tops.

Scanned image of fruit at various stages of growth. The fruit are glabrous closed bell shaped berries, about 4 - 12 per flower.

Magnified scanned image of the green type and maroon type berries. It is evident that the "green type" berry is green because the plant lacks the maroon pigment. The corresponding stalk also lacks that pigment.

Undeveloped white seeds inside the unrip berries.

Magnified image under microscope of the male flower - a kidney shaped pollen sac.

Microscopic image of female flowers consisting of a spherical and striped ovary, a short necked style and a stigma with many finger-like projections to which pollen may get entrapped and hence can perform the fertilisation process.

Magnified image of pollen under light microscope. They are stout rods with curved ends and striped outer texture.

Magnified image under microscope of the purple-brown spots found on the flower stalks.

Scanned image of the seeds. They are pale brown, have a swollen body with a small pointed tip at the apex and numerous longitudinal ridges.

Close up image of few seeds. Note the longitudinal ridges.

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