Arum euxinum R.R.Mill. (= Arum hygrophilum Boiss. subsp. euxinum (R.R.Mill.) Alpinar) - Nivik (in Turkish)
Scientific Description:
Tuber vertical. Petiole of leaves (6–)15–20(–35) cm, often purplish. Lamina oblong-hastate, 5–11 × 2–5(–6) cm, obtuse to acute, with very short basal lobes. Scape (10.5–)18–45 cm, always longer than petioles. Spathe purplish or greenish-purple outside, darker towards base, whitish with purple border inside, often cucullate, 6.5–11 × 1.5–4 cm; tube 1.5–3 cm, dark purple inside; lamina ovate-lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate. Spadix 4.5–7(–9) cm, 0.55–0.9 × spathe. Female inflorescence 6–10 mm; lower sterile zone (0.7–)2–3.7 mm; male zone 1.5–4 × 2–3.5 mm; upper sterile zone 3–7 mm. Sterile filaments reddish-purple or reddish-violet, lower 2–3(–4) mm, upper (2.5–)4–5 mm. Appendix not stipitate, very slender, 2.5–4.5 cm × 1.5–2.2 mm.
Flowering time: April−June.
Habitat: Rocky places, woodland, marshy meadows, 300–1680 m.
Reference:
Mill RR (1984). Arum euxinum R.R.Mill, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 48.
Public Description:
Arum euxinum is an endemic species to Türkiye and known as “Nivik” (in Turkish). The Nivik has purplish or greenish-purple heart-shaped leaves that emerge from the base, and a bloom of a spadix on which the male and female tiny flowers are placed. These plants also contain highly toxic chemical compounds as seen in the other aroids. These chemicals can irritate the skin, mouth, tongue, and throat, resulting in throat swelling, breathing difficulties, burning pain, and stomach upset. However, the harmful effect of the leaves of this plant and the other aroids, which is poisonous in raw, is removed by boiling in water or milk in Anatolia and it is cooked as a meal.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2017). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arum_maculatum,/ Accessed date: 09.02.2017.
Alpınar K (2012). Arum L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (edlr.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 86−88.