My first sighting of the bog arum, Calla palustris was in Aroostook County with the Lake Stewards of Maine during an expedition last week. I had no idea if what I had found was native or invasive, since it wasn't featured in our field guide and doesn't appear in my lake. Thankfully it was recognized and ID-ed by a staff member before I sounded the alarm that we'd found a foreign plant! They were abundant along the edge of the shoreline in boggy areas, where we would normally see pickerelweeds in our area.
It's a more northerly plant that produces red berries after flowering, similar to Jack-in-the-pulpit. Here a spider is exploring the beginnings of the berry stage
The leaves are heart shaped and fleshy, nice, juicy eating for wildlife! I wish I had seen the flower blooming too, but maybe next time ...
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