Italian Lords-and-ladies

Ian Morgan photographed these `Italian Lords-and-Ladies` (Arum italicum subsp. italicum) at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire today. Ian noted: 'It is abundant on the footpath that carries on in a north-east direction beyond Dylan`s Boathouse, with many young plants as well as more mature ones. Note pale yellow venation in the leaves, giving a marbled effect- in contrast to the plain (or dark-spotted) leaves of our common Lords-and-Ladies.'

This bird-sown garden escape has also appeared at several locations in Gower, though there have been no records since Tony Lewis last reported it at Hendrefoiolan in 2003.