Odd weed/horseradish.

[wizzbang]

Hi there,
In my garden I have masses of a plant that tastes and burns like Horseradish but its leaves are shield shaped. Bb thinks it is horseradish and it certainly has the same kick, but I have googled and horseradish leaves are like skinny dock leaves. The leaves on this plant are like very large bindweed leaves. The flower stem, or stalk has a bulbous lump on it which looks like theflowers will come out of there. Sort of like an arum lillys bump but much bigger.
Anybody any ideas. I'm hoping BB is right but the leaves look a bit different to horseradish leaves to me.
Lynne x

[veggiechicken]

Could it be Butterbur?
Wildflower Butterbur Irish Wild Flora Wildflowers of Ireland

[bearded bloke]

Bugger I knew I forgot summat

Not that VC the leaves are smooth & shiney


*BB toddles orf to find his camera >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[bearded bloke]

Ah ha I found it


The plant with furled & unfurled leaves (no sign of a flower stalk) ...........





A very juvenile plant I pulled up to look at the root system (note the growth at the base of the stem,this I believe will grow to be the edible root )........

[mothhawk]

^^^^ Not Jack-by-the-Hedge then - it has heart shaped leaves and is a bit horseradishy (brassica family) but the leaves are not shiny.

Oh, just seen the pics - it's wild arum, cuckoo pint, lords and ladies.

All parts can cause allergic reactions in some people. The berries are extremely poisonous!

[wizzbang]

Nope Chicken, not butterbur. Its leaves are very shield shaped like a massive vine leaf. I don't mean grape vine, I mean giant bindweed.
hopefully BB has a pic.
It nearly blew our heads off it was so strong didn't it BB!
Lynne x

[wizzbang]

^^^^ Not Jack-by-the-Hedge then - it has heart shaped leaves and is a bit horseradishy (brassica family) but the leaves are not shiny.

Ill have a quick googlie, ive never heard of that one.
Lynne x

[veggiechicken]

That's wild arum - Arum Maculatum, Cuckoo pint, Lords and Ladies..........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arum_maculatum

[veggiechicken]

PS. I wouldn't eat it again if I were you
Its quite invasive - pull it out or trample it to bruise the leaves. Hard to kill it.

[mothhawk]

Do NOT taste any more leaves.....

[wizzbang]

That's it!!!!
Gosh its got some kick in that root!!
Hope its not poisonous lol..
BB your a STAR for posting that pic.
Its been bugging me. Thank goodness for you and your camera. And thank Chicken for finding it for me.
What a bloomin forum this is!!!!
Lynne x

[veggiechicken]

Be warned - Lynne! Don't taste until you know what you're eating!!
Culinary
The root of the cuckoo pint, when roasted well, is edible and when ground was once traded under the name of Portland sago. It was used like salop or salep (a working class drink popular before the introduction of tea or coffee). It was also used as a substitute for arrowroot. If prepared incorrectly, it can be highly toxic so should be prepared with due diligence and caution.

[wizzbang]

Do NOT taste any more leaves.....

We tried the root!! Eeeek!!

[wizzbang]

We only tried a tiny bit. We were sure it was horseradish but the leaves baffled us a bit.
You live (if you don't eat too much) and learn lol.
Thank you all xx
Ill get my hobnail boots on and squash them all and give them a drink of Roundup.
Lynne x

[bearded bloke]

Not "wild horseradish" or wild ginger then