Peltandra sagittifolia - White Arrow Arum

Family:	Araceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.15
Synonyms:	P. alba. Raf. P. glauca. (Ell.)Feay.
Range:	South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida.

Peltandra sagittifolia (White Arrow Arum) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.15m . It has a hardness rating of 7.
White Arrow Arum will flower in November to December. The flowers from this plant are monoecious (both sexes are found on the plant but each flower is either male or female) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

White Arrow Arum will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
White Arrow Arum prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

White Arrow Arum should not be planted in shady areas.

Non-alluvial swamps, especially on acid soils[72], and in shallow water at the edges of ponds[1].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a wet lime-free humus-rich soil by the side of water or in shallow still or slowly flowing water in a sunny position[200]. Plants are best grown in clumps[1].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Root - must be well cooked in order to destroy an acrimonious principle, see the notes above on toxicity[95]. The root contains much farinaceous material[1, 105, 161] and can weigh up to 2.7 kilos each[95]. Fruit[105]. No more details but caution is advised - see the notes above on toxicity.

• Fruit -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer in pots of soil that are submerged to their rims in water[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[200]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Stem cuttings rooted in wet mud in the summer[200].

Known Hazards

The plant is rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of tiny needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant[95].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Manual of the Southeastern Flora.
Small.
Author: Small.
Rating:
Publisher : Getting rather dated now, it covers Southeastern N. America. No pictures, it is not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication :

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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