Identify this woodland plant

[Forestforager]

I really struggle to identify plants and it seems that there is no good sites out there to help you reference a plant. Any suggestions. It seems as if you need to know the blooming name of the plant first to get any info.

I would like to know what this is below.

Seen in abundance in Dorset on the road side. started shooting in late Feb and appears to be growing fast in March

[Dorts]

Hi Forestforager, welcome to Wab.
Your plant is Lords-and Ladies - Arum maculatum. It often has purple 'blotches' on the leaves, and will flower in a couple of months or so with a rather strange flower.

It has several other common names including: Wild Arum, Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Cuckoo Pint and is a fairly common woodland plant.
Dorts.

[JennyS]

I really struggle to identify plants and it seems that there is no good sites out there to help you reference a plant. Any suggestions.

identify wildflowers online

[Jez]

I'm lead to believe it's Cuckoo Pint as in - Mint, not Pint as in a measure of liquid.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Jez

I'm lead to believe it's Cuckoo Pint as in - Mint, not Pint as in a measure of liquid.

Strictly speaking that is correct Jez, as it is a shortening of the old names 'Priest's Pintle' and 'Cuckoo's Pintle' etc., which makes reference to the shape of the spadix.
In the early mediaeval it is 'Cokkowyl Pintyl', then in the 'Grete Herball' of 1526 it's 'Cuckowe Pintyle'.
In modern usage 'Cuckoo Pint' now rhymes with the liquid measure, though I have occasionally heard the older version spoken.
Dorts.

[Jez]

Thanks for that wealth of knowledge Dorts.

[Forestforager]

Thanks so much guys.

This is awesome info and Im so pleased you all bothered to reply.

Im really trying to get further into all this foraging and learning about plants etc however the resource is limited unless you know the name to start with...GROAN.

anyhow, I will look to post a few more here for advise.

On another note, I see this is a highly toxic plant. Should it be steered well clear of?

Thanks again

S

[Forestforager]

Originally Posted by JennyS

identify wildflowers online

I tried this site however it did not show the result of Cockoo pint. I guess it is because I marked the flowering season as Feb and it still has the summer to go until it really flowers!! As I spotted the plant in Feb I naturally stated that that was the month. groan....how was I suppose to know....double groan...

Thanks again for the ID on this one.

Steve

[Johnny81]

Always use the scientific name! As according to one site (wikipedia....) this plant has many common names including: Wild arum, Lords and Ladies, Jack in the Pulpit, Devils and Angels, Cows and Bulls, Cuckoo-Pint, Adam and Eve, Bobbins, Naked Boys, Starch-Root and Wake Robin.

On the toxic levels I think you are fine as long as you don't eat the fruit which is produced later in the year, although the actual plant can cause an allergic reaction.

[Forestforager]

BTW: I have a facebook community that I started on Forest foraging (forestforaging). I will give you all a mention of thanks as I posted there for the answer too however no one else was a good as you lot

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