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Glite Dictionary
lords-and-ladies

lords-and-ladies

9.5
A woodland plant with arrow-shaped leaves, a pale hood, and poisonous red berries that appears in spring
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : arum
  • The arrow-shaped leaves of lords-and-ladies appear in early spring before most other plants.

Examples

  • Children are often warned not to touch lords-and-ladies because its berries are poisonous.

  • We spotted lords-and-ladies growing in the shady corners of the woodland.

  • The lords-and-ladies bloom beautifully in the spring.

  • Have you seen the lords-and-ladies in the forest?

  • The arrow-shaped leaves of lords-and-ladies emerge in early spring, marking the change of seasons.

  • Children are often warned not to touch lords-and-ladies because its berries can be harmful.

  • While hiking, we found clusters of lords-and-ladies thriving in the damp shade of the trees.

Synonyms

Arum maculatum
vslords-and-ladies
  • Specialized
9.9

A common European woodland plant with arrow-shaped leaves, a small hooded flower, and poisonous red berries

is the common English name rather than the scientific form
cuckoopint
vslords-and-ladies
  • UK
9.9

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

has a pale hood and similar early spring appearance

Surface Forms

lords-and-ladies singular
lords-and-ladies plural

Etymology

Lords-and-ladies comes from a simple picture people have used for the plant: it has a standing central stalk like a little 'lord' and a hooded leaf around it like a 'lady', and it often has both 'male' and 'female' flowers together. So the name helps you remember the plant's shape and that it contains both 'male' and 'female' parts.