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Friar's Cowl

Arisarum vulgare

Description:

Reaches on average 10–30 centimetres (3.9–12 in) of height. The leaves of this geophyte plant are basal only, wide, ovate to arrow-shaped, with a petiole 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in) long. The stems are erect and unbranched, usually mottled and grow directly from the underground rhizome. A single leaflike bract (spathe) forms a purplish-brown or olive green striped tube about 5 inches long, with an open upper part helmet or hood-shaped curved forward. It encloses a fleshy greenish clublike spike (spadix) bent forward, protruding from the tube and bearing at the bottom minute purple violet flowers. The 20 male flowers are located above the four to six female, with sterile flowers completely missing. The flowering period extends from October through May. The sexes are united in the same individual plant. Pollination is granted by insects (entomophily). The fruits are greenish berries of about 1 centimetre (0.39 in)long.

Habitat:

Prefers grassy fields and rocky scrubland, forests and wasteland, mainly in shady and cool places and in moist soils, at an altitude of 0–800 metres (0–2,600 ft) above sea level.

Notes:

Candeias (Portuguese)

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7 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Very unusual!

VivBraznell
VivBraznell 12 years ago

Amazing shape

misako
misako 12 years ago

Cool!

Dan Doucette
Dan Doucette 12 years ago

Actually Liam this is the flower of a plant.

LarryGraziano
LarryGraziano 12 years ago

Sick one!

Liam
Liam 12 years ago

What an awesome fungus.

Dan Doucette
Dan Doucette 12 years ago

Wow! Very cool! Great spotting!

Ana Rosa
Spotted by
Ana Rosa

Algarve, Portugal

Spotted on Jan 22, 2005
Submitted on Oct 22, 2011

Spotted for Mission

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