Bit by the cobra lily bug

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The Register-Guard, Home & Garden Monthly Thursday, June 19, 2008
David Starck, with his wife, Ginger, is fascinated by the diverse plants of the genus arisaema,
such as A. taiwanense, which “towers” like an 18-inch-tall palm tree in the foreground.
hooded, pitcher-like, modified leaf called
the spathe.
In some species the spadix, and in
other cases the spathe, extends into a
long, rodent-like “tail” that apparently
serves as a ladder for insects into the
pitcher — and adds an element of humor
to the plant’s meat-eating persona.
Arisaema spathes can be subtle or
striking, with striped patterns and color
combinations from green and pink to
purple and white, and their spadices
may protrude prominently or hide discretely
inside.
Snake-skin patterned stalks add to
the wild appearance of some species,
particularly when the pointed shoots
emerge from the ground in spring or
early summer.
Leaf shape and arrangement may be
arisaemas’ most variable traits. Starck
says some plants have a trifoliate pattern,
or three leaflets extending from a
single stem; some have a pedate configuration
of at least five leaflets emanating
in different ways from a single stem;
and still others have a radiate structure
of five or more leaflets radiating from a
single point at the top of the stem.
Even after the flowers are spent,
arisaemas contribute textural interest
to a garden all season with their foliage,
which may be mottled or variegated.
“They also have beautiful orange or
red seed pods in the fall,” says Ginger
Starck, also an avid gardener, as she
walks with her husband on the undulating
paths of their 1-acre main garden.
Along the way, the Starcks point
out some of their favorite arisaemas.
Highlights include A. taiwanense, which
looks like an 18-inch-tall palm tree with
perfectly radiate leaves atop a snakeskin
stalk, and A. sikokianum, which has a
dark purple and white pitcher, a striped
purple and green hood and a pure-white,
marshmallow-like spadix.
Equal opportunity gender
Remarkably, some arisaema plants
are female, some are male, some are
both — and some alternate depending
on age, nutrition and the strength of
individual plants. Botanists refer to this
rare trait as paradioecious. Generally,
arisaema flowers are pollen-producing
males when plants are young, then give
way to female flowers that bear seeds
when the tubers accumulate enough
stored energy. The year after fruiting,
or if conditions deteriorate, a plant may
revert to producing only male flowers.
“They’re quite variable,” David
Starck says. “Sometimes they’ll even
take a year off and not come up at all if
they’re not happy and don’t get enough
energy in their tuber.”
Growing arisaemas
Arisaemas are available from specialty
nurseries as tubers and plants.
They can be spendy. It’s not uncommon
for the tubers to cost $15 each; Starck
says the most he’s paid for an arisaema
is $40 for an A. triphyllum ‘Black Jack,’
a variety with shiny black foliage, green
veins and a black spathe.
If buying tubers in person and not
by mail order, Starck suggests choosing
those that are potted and showing signs
of emerging. Plant them in spring or fall
as soon as possible after buying.
For arisaemas to stay happy, they
need rich, moist soil in partial shade.