deer eat Arisaema?

[Ellen Hornig]

Judging from what I saw in the woods last spring, the local deer have a
great fondness for A. triphyllum.  Huge numbers had been yanked out and
the tops eaten (deer are yankers, not tidy grazers) - I can't remember to
what extent tubers were eaten, or left lying about, but there were
widespread signs of something having fed on this specific plant, and I
can't imagine what else would have done it.

Fortunately, the deer tend to stay on the other side of the ravine, and
out of my garden, during the growing season (not always in winter, I'm
afraid) so they haven't bothered the ones in my garden.

One of the odd things about deer is that different herds show different
preferences ("my" deer refuse to eat large-leaved rhododendron; not the
case for a herd on the other side of town, which, unfortunately, lives in
and around the nursery of a friend who specializes in - you guessed it -
rhododendrons); and these preferences can change over time.  For many
years, my deer never touched Ilex (`Blue Boy' and similar); two years ago
we had a terrible winter, they were starving, they'd eat anything, and
they absolutely demolished the Ilex; last year wasn't so bad, but guess
what they came back, right up to the house, to feast upon?

So - it wouldn't surprise me if they'd eat arisaemas as well.  I think
their mouths are lined with leather....

Ellen