Calla

Calla
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Subfamily:	Calloideae
Genus:	Calla L.
Species:	C. palustris
Binomial name
Calla palustris L.
Synonyms
Callaria Raf. Aroides Heist. ex Fabr. Provenzalia Adans. Callaion Raf. Callaion palustris (L.) Raf. Provenzalia palustris (L.) Raf. Calla ovatifolia Gilib. Calla cordifolia Stokes Callaion bispatha (Raf.) Raf. Callaion brevis (Raf.) Raf. Callaion heterophylla (Raf.) Raf. Provenzalia bispatha Raf. Provenzalia brevis Raf. Provenzalia heterophyla Raf. Dracunculus paludosus Montandon Calla generalis E.H.L.Krause Calla brevis (Raf.) Á.Löve & D.Löve

Calla (bog arum, marsh calla, wild calla, and water-arum) is a genus of flowering plant in the family Araceae, containing the single species Calla palustris. It is native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, in central, eastern and northern Europe (France and Norway eastward), northern Asia and northern North America (Alaska, Canada, and northeastern contiguous United States).

It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant growing in bogs and ponds. The leaves are rounded to heart-shaped, 6–12 centimetres (2.4–4.7 in) long on a 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in) petiole, and 4–12 centimetres (1.6–4.7 in) broad. The greenish-yellow inflorescence is produced on a spadix about 4–6 centimetres (1.6–2.4 in) long, enclosed in a white spathe. The fruit is a cluster of red berries, each berry containing several seeds.

The plant is very poisonous when fresh due to its high oxalic acid content, but the rhizome (like that of Caladium, Colocasia, and Arum) is edible after drying, grinding, leaching and boiling.

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Wikipedia