Lords-and-ladies

Description:

The plants from this genus are rhizomatous, herbaceous perennials, forming striking leafless cluster of green (at first), yellow-orange later on, and bright orange-red berries (when mature) mounted on upright green stalk. We missed the flower again, arriving to the region too late for flowers - which would help ID the species... I believe this could be A. Maculatum or A. italicum, both common in Mediterranean forests.

Habitat:

Common woodland species, discreet, grows in shade, in warm and humid forest floors. Here observed in several locations in and around the Krka NP of Croatia; on edges of woodlands along the river Krka. The park is in the place where river Krka forms a series of waterfalls and lakes; it is surrounded by a magnificent dense broad-leaved forest, and its shallow coastal waters are rich in vegetation.

Notes:

Whole plant, leaves, rhizomes and berries are toxic. The berries are particularly dangerous since attractive. However, there are some notes that the root, properly prepared, may be edible and it was used as replacement for arrowroot or salep (Orchid flour). Still, it need to be noted that if prepared incorrectly, it remains highly toxic.