Green Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica) plants in our local ponds and other freshwater wetlands are coming along well, as you can see from this image taken yesterday. Soon, many of these leaves will reach about 30 inches with about 8-inch wide “arrow heads” that are heavy enough to bend the stalks gracefully over the pond.
This plant, also known as Tuckahoe, produces fruits that ducks, muskrats, and other marsh creatures eat, but humans are advised not to taste any part of the plant. The family name “arum” is thought to derive from the Arab term for “fire” and reflects the sensation you’ll have in your mouth if you chew this plant. (Brooklin, Maine)