Arrow Arum
Peltandra virginica

Arrow arum is a native perennial plant with large, arrowhead-shaped leaves. It grows in shallow, tidal fresh waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

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Arrow arum has thick, arrowhead-shaped leaves with prominent veins down the middle and along the edge. Above, arrow arum grows in Kingman Marsh on the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 30, 2019. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program) USAGE REQUEST INFORMATION The Chesapeake Bay Program's photographic archive is available for media and non-commercial use at no charge. To request permission, send an email briefly describing the proposed use to requests@chesapeakebay.net. Please do not attach jpegs. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. A photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.

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Appearance

Arrow arum has long, thick, arrowhead-shaped leaves. The leaves have prominent veins down the middle and along the edge. They can be up to 18 inches in length and nearly 6 inches wide. Leaves grow from the top of stalks, which grow from a thick rootstock that is embedded in the mud. A white flower spike contained in a green sheath blooms in May to July. Arrow arum grows to 3 feet tall.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

After blooming, flower spikes mature into dark, drooping pods full of large, green seeds. The pods eventually split open and release their seeds.

Did You Know?

  • Arrow arum gets its name from its arrowhead-shaped leaves. It is also known as tuckahoe or duck corn.
  • It can be confused with pickerelweed, which it often grows near. You can distinguish arrow arum by its arrowhead-shaped leaves and white flowers. Pickerelweed has heart-shaped leaves and blue flowers.
  • Rails, muskrats, wood ducks and black ducks all rely on arrow arum for food.
  • Some Native American tribes used dried, pulverized arrow arum roots as flour for making bread. The plant’s fruits were sometimes cooked and eaten like peas.

Sources and Additional Information

Tags:
Plants & Trees Herbaceous Streams & Rivers Marshes & Wetlands