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KeldBach — Cuckoo Pint
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Published: 2009-08-09 14:33:24 +0000 UTC; Views: 621; Favourites: 25; Downloads: 23
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Description
Category: Flowers, Plants & TreesThe colourful (and poisonous) berries of a Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum), captured in my backyard.
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Comments: 9
Heh, I use to do talks on this plant at a visitors garden!
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Interesting. What can you tell about it?
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Oh well, the juice from the berries was used many years ago as a clothes starch, for ruffs and such, but it is also quite an irritant and caused the laundry maids severe skin problems. Eating the berries is deadly poisonous and a small drop of juice on the tongue can cause a burning sensation, so youd be hard pushed to eat them!
Also there were various stories and folklores about it, such as it grew at the base of Christs cross and in 1930 it was believed that if women touch the plant they would become pregnant!!
There were many other plants at the gardens which were more surreal and dangerous than the cuckoo pint, was an interesting place to be! ^^
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Thanks for the info. I didn't know the berries were poisonous. The bright colours make them look very delicious. Glad I didn't eat any, but I did touch them when I photographed the plant, without feeling any irritation of the skin.
There's another plant in my garden that gives me much more troubles. That's the Petty Spurge (Euphorbia peplus) [link] Do you know that one?
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Yeah, its the juices from the berries and the roots, just dont squish them!! :/
The Spurge is a nasty weed, burns the skin and is also poisonous if eaten, was used to treat warts and such, literally burning them off, but apparently its being used to treat cancer, so generally a useful plant!
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Thanks again for the info. You seem to have great knowledge about these plants. I might have some more questions another time. Take care
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