The Virginia wake-robin, arrow arum, or tuckahoe (Peltandra virginica (L.) Schott) is a plant of still or slow moving waters—ponds, swamps, marshes, and the banks of streams—growing in full sun to shade. The photographed plant was growing in deep shade along a forested seasonal creek, a creek that flows only after rain. Its native range, eastern Texas to Florida and northward to the Great Lakes and southern Maine, appears expanding as populations of tuckahoes have been discovered in Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, and southeastern Canada. In the north, this aroid goes dormant during winter; in the south, it retains its leaves and continues to flower.

Like other aroids (family Araceae), the tuckahoe is toxic containing calcium oxalate crystals that discourage herbivory. The microscopic crystals cause severe swelling and a horrible burning sensation as they puncture the membranes of the mouth and throat. Swallowing is a fatal mistake. In pasture streams, the plants are luxuriant. Cows eat around the plants leaving the tuckahoe without competition for sunlight and nutrients.

The toxic tuckahoe though, was eaten by Native Americans. The name, tuckahoe or tockawhough, referred to two aquatic aroids, Peltandra virginica and golden club, Orontium aquaticum. (See Plant of the Week, February 24, 2003) The name came from the Delaware, ptucqui or petukqui, "loaf or cake", and the Cree, pettikwow, "round or globular". The large rhizome as well as the spadix, fruit, seeds, and leaves were eaten.

Calcium oxalate can be destroyed by very long cooking or heating and drying. The rhizome, rich in starches, was dried and ground for making breads and soups. The spadix, fruit, and seeds were considered delicacies. And they must have been highly prized since the native chef had to cook them up to nine hours to make them safe for consumption.

(Compiled from: Guide to Vascular Plants of Florida, Richard P. Wunderlin, University Press of Florida, Gainesville, 1998; "Peltandra virginica", Flora of North America, Vol. 22, eFloras.org; "Peltandra virginica", Plants For A Future: Database Search, School of Computing, University of Leeds; The 1889 Century Unabridged Dictionary, Century Dictionary Online, Global Language Resources)