15 June 2017 Dracunculus vulgaris

[Durgan]

http://durgan.org/2017/June%202017/15%20June%202017%20Dracunculus%20vulgaris/HTML/ 15 June 2017 Dracunculus vulgaris
This grows every year from two bulbs planted ten years ago. The vegetation disappears completely during the Summer. When the flowers first open they have strong unpleasant odor to attract flies for pollination. The “Stink” that emanates from the flower on the day it opens smells somewhat like rotting meat and attracts flies as the chief pollinator. Luckily the odor dissipates after the first day, allowing you to enjoy the exotic beauty of this unusual plant! An ornamental cultivar. Dracunculus vulgaris is known by many names, Dragon Lily, Voodoo Lily, Stink Lily.

 

[Marck]

Dragon Arum (Dracunculus vulgaris), a tuberous Aroid (Araceae) native to Italy, the Balkan Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, Anatolia, and northern Algeria.

The usual color of the inflorescence is as shown above (spath purple, spadix black), but on the island of Crete, there are unusual forms with white spathes, the accompanying spadix can be either black or yellow.

For two or three days, each inflorescence will emit a foul odor, but usually this is only noticeable fairly near the plant.
All the same, do come in close to admire the inflorescence and while there, inspect the inflorescence for floral pollinators and other visitors. A variety of flies (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) will often be found within the lower spathe.