Italian Lords-and-Ladies - Arum italicum

There are at least four species of Italian Lords-and-Ladies which may appear similar, and we have therefore treated this as an aggregate. The leaves are not always marked with creamy-marble veins. Italian Lords-and-Ladies has a yellow spadix (the central spike) and a yellowish spathe (the cowl-like hood surrounding the spadix) with no purplish edges.

Easily confused with Lords-and-Ladies (Arum maculatum) but that species has a purple-brown spadix and a spathe which has purple edges.

Shady areas, usually near to human habitation.

Flowers in April or May

Perennial.

In anywhere but the far south of England where it can be found native, Italian Lords-and-Ladies is usually to be found close to human habitation as an introduction or casual escapee.

Rare casual or introduction in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.