FLOWERING: April - May.
SEED TIMING: Mid-August through September.
HABITAT: Rich moist woods, wet swamps, or drier areas in
high open woods where soil is rich in humus.
DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES: 15 - 30 inches high. Perennial.
Leaflike hood (spathe) surrounds a central column (spadix). Spathe
is green or purplish brown, often striped. Leaves, 1 or 2,
long-stalked, 3 parted. Plant is dioecious. Females bear fruit.
TO PICK: Shortly after spathe withers a dense cluster of
green berries appears. Cluster slowly expands, turns orange, then
scarlet red. Often leaves deteriorate before fruit matures so that
seed collectors see only a single green stalk supporting the cluster
of brilliant red berries which can then be picked. Seed cleaning
should be started within a few days of collection while pulp is
still soft.
