CALLA PALUSTRIS L.

Wild Calla

 

FAMILY: Araceae

HABIT: Low perennial herb with long creeping, branching rhizome bearing cordate, long-petioled leaves and solitary scape; flowers and fruits April-Aug.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The only other Ohio species in the Araceae (a family with a distinctive spathe and spadix) that occurs in similar habitats or even remotely resembles C. palustris is Peltandra virginica. However, P. virginica has a green, convolute spathe, sagittate leaves and green berries, whereas C. palustris has a white, ovate spathe, rounded leaves with a cordate base and red berries.

TOTAL RANGE: Nfld. to AK, s. to MD, NJ, PA, IN, IA and MN.

STATE RANGE: There are post-1960 records from Ashtabula, Geauga, Portage, Stark and Summit Counties. There are pre-1960 records from Cuyahoga, Trumbull and Williams Counties.

STATE STATUS: 1980 to present: Potentially Threatened.

HABITAT: Bogs, margins of ponds and openings in swamp forests, buttonbush communities.

HAZARDS: Overshading by encroaching woody plants; destruction of habitat by draining, filling or peat mining.

RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Probably good, protection of habitat and management at bogs help this species.

INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Collect complete and mature specimens.

COMMENTS: This species should be sought in bogs and swamps throughout northeastern Ohio.

SELECTED REFERENCES:

 

Braun, E.L. 1967. The Monocotyledoneae [of Ohio]: Cat-tails to orchids. The Ohio State Univ. Press, Columbus OH. 464 pp.

Dudley, M.G. 1937. Morphological and cytological studies of Calla palustris. Bot. Gaz. 98: 556-571.

Voss, E.G. 1972. Michigan Flora, Part I. Gymnosperms and monocots. Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 59, Bloomfield Hills, MI. 488 pp.

 

Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Created: 4/1993 Greg Schneider

Database Code: SPGL.J70