Dragon Arum (Dracunculus vulgaris)

Enipeas valley 04-06-12

Enipeas valley 04-06-12

   Dracunculus vulgaris (Araceae family) is known under many common names some of them referring to its shape: Dragon Arum, Black Arum, Voodoo Lily, Snake Lily, Black Dragon, Black Lily, Dragonwort, Ragons (Δρακοντιά, Φιδόχορτο) while other to the specific smell it has Stinky Lily. The name itself refers to the resemblance between the spadex (dragon) hiding in the spathe. The plant it is native to the Balkans and to parts of Anatolia. The plant can be up to 2m high with the inflorescence being up to 1,35m long.

   The flower extracts the unpleasant smell of a rotting carcass to attract its pollinators. Many believe that it is flesh eating but in reality it attracts only pollinators. It has two sets of flowers with the female ones being at the bottom and the male ones at the top and this all at the bottom of the spadex, so it needs the flies to carry the pollen... Another interesting fact about the smell is that it seems to cease when it has attracted a few flies.

   The plant is toxic and animals do not eat it, but the root after being processed can be made into arrow flour and used instead of wheat flour in periods of famine.