Calla palustris Water arum (Araceae)

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Calla palustris
Water arum
(1 Page of 5)

The Calla palustris plant species is found in Europe. Naturalized in Britain[17]. It is a member of the Araceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Water arum.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Calla palustris
Common Name:  Water arum
Family:  Araceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The plant contains calcium oxylate crystals[222]. These cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten, but they are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water[65].

Mature Height:  0.25   Mature Width:  0.3

Habitat:  Forest swamps, moorland marshes, by ponds and streams[10].

Edible Uses: Rhizome - cooked. It is usually prepared by drying the root, grinding it into a powder and then thoroughly cooking it to ensure that any acrimonious principle is completely destroyed. The resulting powder is rich in starch and can be used as a flour for making bread etc, especially in conjunction wth cereal flours[1, 2, 55, 100, 183]. It is said to be very tasty[65]. Fruit (does this include the seed?) - it should be dried and then thoroughly cooked[172]. The dried fruit and rootstalk can be ground into an unpalatable but nutritious powder[172]. The seed is dried, cooked and ground into a powder[207].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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