NEN Gallery

The bright green leaves of this plant generally appear February and March before it flowers. It is a plant which, in the middle ages, was connected with lovers. The flowers are contained in a broad hood like structure called a spathe; inside, a club like sadix gives of an odour of decay attracting insects, which then become trapped. The plant flowers April-May and the fruits develop in August. The red berries are extremely poisonous and can be fatal if eaten by children. A common plant of woods and hedgerows. Picture taken at Flemersham, Bedfordshire - late January 2006.