Arum maculatum, Lords and Ladies

Common Name: Lords and Ladies

Arum maculatum, more commonly known as Lords and Ladies or Cuckoo-pint, is an early flowering plant, and can be seen in April and May.

It is a shade-loving plant of woodlands and hedgerows, and is particularly distinctive as it displays a pale green sheath surrounding a purple or yellow 'spadix' (a spike of tiny flowers on a fleshy stem). This spadix eventually produces an upright stalk of bright red berries that is conspicuous among the leaf litter. Leaves are large and arrow-shaped.

It is common and grows everywhere in the UK, but less commonly in the north of Scotland. Lords and Ladies has many other common names, arising from its rather strange look, but 'Cuckoo-pint' is perhaps one of the most widely used, as indeed is 'Jack in the Pulpit'.

https://www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.