Arrow Arum
Peltandra virginica
Arrow arum grows in shallow and slow-moving fresh waters, along the edges of rivers and wetlands. (Jane Thomas/IAN Image Library)
Arrow arum is a native perennial plant with large, arrowhead-shaped leaves. It grows in shallow, tidal fresh waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.
Appearance:
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Long, thick, arrowhead-shaped leaves with prominent veins down the middle and along the edge
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Leaves can be up to 18 inches long and nearly 6 inches wide
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Leaves grow from the top of stalks
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Stalks grow from a thick rootstock that is embedded in the mud
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White flower spike contained in a green sheath blooms in May-July
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Grows to 3 feet tall
Habitat:
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Grows in shallow and slow-moving fresh waters, including marshes and swamps, on tidal flats, and along the edges of rivers and streams
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Forms large, dense colonies
Range:
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Grows throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, including Delaware, Maryland and Virginia
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
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After blooming, flower spikes mature into dark, drooping pods full of large, green seeds
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The pods eventually split open and release their seeds
Other Facts:
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Also known as tuckahoe and duck corn
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Gets its name from its arrowhead-shaped leaves
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Arrow arum can be confused with pickerelweed, which it often grows near. You can distinguish arrow arum by its arrowhead-shaped leaves and white flowers. Pickerelweed has heart-shaped leaves and blue flowers.
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Rails, muskrats, wood ducks and black ducks all rely on arrow arum for food
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Some Native American tribes used dried, pulverized arrow arum roots as flour for making bread. The plant’s fruits were sometimes cooked and eaten like peas.
Sources and Additional Information:
