Arisaema consanguineum
Family: Araceae
Common Name(s):
Grown by: Barbara & John Hopper, Kenwood
Etymology
aris/ron = “arum”
haima=blood referring either to the relationship to arum or the blood flecklike spots on the spathe of the type species
consanguineum= “with the blood” or “related”
Related to Jack-in-the-pulpit, this tuberous rooted perennial arum from central China & the Eastern Himalayan woodlands has a hooded spathe shielding the spadix the rodlike structure bearing tight rings of male and female organs--think of peering into a cala lily from the elements.
The spathe tapers into a long threadlike appendage. This strategy is repeated on the threadlike tip of the many (11-20_ digitate leaflets, acting as very efficient rain drippers guiding every bit of water off the surface of the leaves which can grow to 3-4 feet above the duff. The stalk is strikingly marked with shades of green and zoned browns with undertones of yellow and pale orange--hubba hubba!
