Native in Africa, Europe, and some parts of Asia. Macaronesia: Portugal - Madeira Islands; Spain - Canary Islands Northern Africa: Algeria; Morocco; Tunisia Caucasus: Armenia; Georgia; Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia - Ciscaucasia Western Asia: Turkey Eastern Europe: Russian Federation-European part - European part; Ukraine Middle Europe: Switzerland Northern Europe: United Kingdom Southeastern Europe: Albania; Bulgaria; Former Yugoslavia; Greece; Italy Southwestern Europe: France; Portugal; Spain
Stemless woodland plant. Grows 1 - 1.5 feet in height and spread. Blooms April to May with a creamy white flower. Marbled green leaves. Bright orange-red berries develop in the summer. All parts of plant are toxic.
Monoecious, protogynous. Clonal reproduction occurs regularly; sexual reporduction is acheived through cross-pollination by dung flies. The flies are attracted by a dung-like or rotting odor produced by the appendix and trapped for 24 hours with only stigmatic fluid as reward. At various stages of this process, heat is produced.
Originally cultivated as a garden ornamental. Planted in woodland gardens and shaded border areas. Listed as an economically important ornamental plant on GRIN.