The Calla Lily (aka. Arum Lily, Zantedeschia spp.) is a beauty long associated with purity and the Virgin Mary; and on the contrary, a symbol of lust and sexuality (with its phallic pistil). In the Victorian language of flowers, the Calla Lily had an overtly sexual meaning. I think we know what choice Georgia O’Keeffe would choose when looking at her artwork. What is your vote?
The Calla Lily is also symbolic of resurrection and rebirth as the entire plant goes dormant every year and returns in full splendor. It is often used in weddings due to its symbolism of the promise of fertility for the bride. ‘Magnificent Beauty!’ is the Greek meaning of the word ‘calla’.
Beyond their use in the landscape and as cut flowers, Calla Lily has traditional medicinal applications, including for asthma, bronchitis, skin wounds, abscesses and boils with confirmed antimicrobial activity in vitro. It may also be surprising that one use of the Calla Lily plant is a food use. Although Calla Lilies contain calcium oxylate crystals and are toxic if eaten raw, the root has been consumed after special preparation which involves drying, leaching, boiling and grinding.
#ethnobotany #ethnopharm #edibleplants #cutflowers #medicinalplants #lust