Cuckoo Pint

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 This extraordinary flower is appearing in clumps in the meadow. "Cuckoo " I suppose because it appears now when the cuckoos arrive and "Pint" being an abbreviation of Pintle an old name for a penis. Another name for the flower is "Lords and Ladies" which is also a reference to the shape of the plant and certain human anatomical features. This plant is related to arum lilies.

The method of fertilisation is fascinating. During the evenings the temperature inside the flower increases and a strong scent of faeces is given off. This scent attracts flies which enter the cavity formed by the plant and then cannot escape (hairs trap them inside). The anthers then shower the insects with pollen. In the morning the plant changes the shape of the hairs enough to allow the insects to escape and they take away the pollen and introduce it to another plant the next night thus causing fertilisation.


Later in the year the flowers produce a cluster of red berries. Most parts of the plant are poisonous. The tubers are a source of starch and in medieval times the crushed ups tubers were used to starch alter cloths (nothing else would do apparently). The roots (if treated correctly) could be used as an alternative to arrowroot to produce a hot drink in the times before tea and coffee.

                                                                                        Diary
Overnight cameras showed a couple of shots of badgers and a mystery animal! A very blurry shot moving at speed. Fox?? What do you think? Lots of bats in the lane when I took the dog out last night. Probably pipistrelle.




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