Now here's an inconspicuous plant that arrives early in spring in the hedgerow and in woodland. Starchwort says it all. - its large tuberous roots are like the potato. Well I never. Here is a useful source of food for the starving. But they have to be baked as if eaten raw they sting and are quite acrid. After plenty of washing(!) the starch is rather like arrowroot and used to be sold as Portland Sago but no one bothers with this nowadays. In Good Queen Bess's days it was used to starch her ruffs and those of anyone else who could afford the luxury of lace. The French called it Cyprus Powder and put it on their face, better than lead to make your skin white at least it wouldn't kill you.
Here's an old recipe that was given to me by a Welsh Witch, though I don't expect she would thank me for calling her that. Take the white petals kind of sheath of the flower and dry them. Then soak them in good french brandy in a jam jar and leave them until require. If you cut yourself or have a nasty wound, take one out and slap it on. They work like a plaster and the healing is quite remarkable. The Welsh Witch told me that her neighbour who was a farm labourer cut his hand very badly on some machinery. Not used to calling on doctors, he bought out his jar of arums and slapped one on. His finger was badly mangled with the skin hanging off, he put it all back into place and left the arum on for a few days. It healed hardly leaving even a scar. My friend was very impressed.
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