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Arum maculatum

Arum maculatum

9.9
A common European woodland plant with arrow-shaped leaves, a small hooded flower, and poisonous red berries
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : arum maculado
  • Botanists often find Arum maculatum growing in the shaded understory of European woodlands.

Examples

  • The berries of Arum maculatum are poisonous and should not be eaten.

  • Arum maculatum is known for its distinctive hooded flower that appears in early spring.

  • Look at that beautiful Arum maculatum!

  • The Arum maculatum grows in shaded areas.

  • Arum maculatum is known for its distinctive hooded flower that appears in early spring.

  • Botanists often find Arum maculatum growing in the shaded understory of European woodlands.

  • The berries of Arum maculatum are poisonous and should not be eaten.

Synonyms

lords-and-ladies
vsArum maculatum
  • UK
9.5

A woodland plant with arrow-shaped leaves, a pale hood, and poisonous red berries that appears in spring

is the scientific name for the same plant
cuckoopint
vsArum maculatum
  • UK
9.9

A forest plant with spotted leaves and a small purple flower in spring

is used for the species more generally with a pale hood-like spathe

How Common

Arum maculatum
  • Specialized
9.9
uncommon
122 4.6
rare animal
2 6.4

Surface Forms

Arum maculatum singular
Arum maculata plural
Arum maculata singular

Morphology

arum + maculatum

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) functioning as a taxonomic proper name rather than a compositional English phrase. The second element 'maculatum' is a Latin epithet (not a common English word), so a B1 learner who knows ordinary English constituents would not be able to derive the species description from the parts, making it unintelligible as a transparent English MWE.

Etymology

Arum maculatum is often called 'lords-and-ladies' because its hooded green flower and the upright central spike make a shape like a small person under a cloak. One popular story says people imagined a lord or a lady hiding under that hood, so the name helps you remember the plant's hooded bloom and bright red berries.