Common name: Friar's Cowl
Arisarum vulgare subsp. vulgare Targ.Tozz. APNI* 
Description: Herbaceous perennial to 0.5 m high, monoecious, with an underground tuber ovoid in shape.
Leaves with ovate to arrow-shaped sagittate leaves, 10–15 cm long, 5–8 cm wide, venation obvious; petiole 5.5–37.5 cm long.
Inflorescence is an erect spadix, with a peduncle 9–36 cm long, spathe with a purplish-brown or olive green striped tube, 2.9–7.5 cm long, 0.6–4 cm wide, cucullate, tubular, at the top of the spadix is club-shaped and curved.
Fruit is a green round berry containing light brown seeds that have distinct longitudinal ridges.
Distribution and occurrence: World 3 sp. Native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe and northern Africa, east to the Caucasus, and west to the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira. Australia 1 sp. naturalised sparingly in Australia in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. Moist areas in shade.
NSW subdivisions: *SC
Other Australian states: *Vic. *S.A.
If in a moist location it can propagate vegetatively and form large clumps and become invasive.
Text by Louisa Murray
Taxon concept:
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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