Thursday, June 7, 2012

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. 

5 comments:

Marijke said...

Brilliant color of the flower. I am pleased you are back Ina.

Joop Zand said...

Very good shot...... never seen this flower.

Dani P. said...

Μου άρεσε το Vodoo lily :):):) Τι φαντασία να του δώσει κάποιος τέτοιο όνομα ...
Καλό ΣΚ !

CameraCruise said...

Great shot of Dragon Arum, love the color.
Have a great weekend.
Mette

Giga said...

Kwiat jest piękny i takie cudo rośnie na dziko. Pozdrawiam.
Ένα λουλούδι είναι όμορφο και σαν ένα θαύμα που αναπτύσσονται στην άγρια​​. Δικός σου.