Arisaema intermedium
Watercolour on Fabriano 5, framed in Oak
45cm x 32cm, framed to 70cm x 50cm
£4250 Enquire >>
An original watercolour painting of Arisaema intermedium. I watched this plant grow in my Edinburgh garden for two years before painting this specimen. Depicting two seasons of growth, the inflorescence and leaf from the summer months, and the fruit from the autumn season.
This arisaema won me over with its velvety leaves which were such a fun challenge, capturing the light and shade whilst retaining the soft texture on the top surface, and capturing the concave structures like the buttresses in a cathedral ceiling on the lower side. This painting was my introduction to painting and appreciating green flowers. The green flowers have a long green and white striped spathe limb with a twist, they sequester themselves beneath their foliage, their strawberry bootlace spadix entwined within the leaflets. Then in Autumn there is a fantastic ‘tie-die’ transition from green fruits through orange to bright red as they ripen, these fruits have a striation, little ridges from the apex down the body of the fruit, which create little reflected stars. I feel that this is a quite, but splendid plant!
Botanical details
Common name: Blume’s Cobra Lily Section Arisaema Type: A. speciosum (Wall.) Mart. ex Schott
A. intermedium is distinctive by its velvety dull green leaves, it has a green infloresence with white stripes and veins appearing below the foliage. The spathe limb is typically longer than the spathe tube and tapers like an arrow.
Deciduous, to 60cm tall and wide, distribution through NW India, NE India and Nepal, preferring forests at high altitude, 2700 – 3700m. Flowering period May to June, ripening September to October.
“The Genus Arisaema, A Monograph for Botanist and Nature Lovers“, Guy and Liliane Gusman, 2006, A.R.G. Gantner Verlag K.G. “Himalayan Cobra-lilies (Arisaema) Their Botany and Culture”, Udai C. Pradhan, 1990, Primulaceae Books, Himalayan Plant Journal, Kalimpong-734301, Darjeeling, Gorka Hill Council, West Bengal, India.
© Marianne Hazlewood
