Arum italicum Mill.
Italian arum (Arum italicum) is a long-lived, perennial herb that is native to Eurasia. It was introduced to New Zealand as a garden ornamental and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1945. The plant grows from underground tubers and has glossy, arrow-shaped leaves, often with pale veins. It flowers from September to November, producing a pale yellow flower spike enclosed by a pale green bract, which develops into a dense cluster of bright orange-red berries. It tolerates shade, damp conditions and a range of soil types. It reproduces by seed and vegetatively from tubers. Seeds are dispersed by birds. Tubers are spread by soil movement, dumped garden waste and other human activities.
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