Minnesota Wildflowers


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Calla palustris (Wild Calla)

Plant Info
Also known as: Water Arum
Genus:Calla
Family:Araceae (Arum)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; bogs, swamps, wet ditches, shallow water
Bloom season:May - June
Plant height:6 to 16 inches
County distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: indistinct Cluster type: spike

[photo of flower] A single cylindric spike (spadix), sheathed by a smooth, waxy, oval petal-like spathe, at the end of a stout stem arising 3 to 12 inches above the waterline. The spathe is broadly oval to elliptic, creamy white, 1 to 3 inches long and about 1 inch wide. The spadix is up to 1 inch long and studded with petal-less flowers, creamy white stamens surrounding a conical green pistil.

Leaves and stems: Leaf attachment: basal Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are also waxy smooth, heart-shaped, 2 to 4 inches long, basal lobes and edges curling inward. Leaf stalk is stout, 4 to 16 inches long, sheathed at base, usually taller than the flowers.

Fruit:

[photo of developing fruit] Fruit is a pear-shaped berry to ½ inch long that ripens to bright red.

Notes:

Wild Calla is common in more acidic, shallow water and bogs in the NE third of Minnesota. We spotted a colony growing in a wet ditch along a highway in Aitkin county, among other places.

Where to buy native seed and plants

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken at several locations in central Aitkin county.

Comments

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