Re: Rotten Meat Scented Flowers

Hi Tim,

You have gotten one of several kinds of plant. The commonest is the
Dragon Lily Arum dracunculoides - it has white and black spotted stems
and a crown of fingery green leaves from which the purple brown spathe
rises clear. There is also the Palestine Lily Arum palestinicum this is
in all repsects lower and smaller, the stem and leaves are deep green,
the leaves a re entire, not fingery, and the flower sits down among the
leaves. They both stink of rotten flesh - carrion. The smell attracts
flies who lay their maggots inside the flowers thinking the little
charmers will find food. Instead they starve. In flying in and out of
the narrow neck of the flower, usually passing a ring of hairs the flies
knock down pollen and thus fertilise the flowers.

If you need to cut down the smelly flowers all you need cut is the
flower itself, not the stem and leaves, thus retaining the attractive
stems and leaf forms. The corms usually multiply well, esp if the soil
is sandy and well drained. Increase is usally by small cormlets that
form of the surface of the main 'bulb'. If the bulb is scratched or cut
(and doesn't rot) additional 'bulblets' will form. i guess it could have
some weedy potential in conditions particularly to its liking but o/wise
its an OK background plant very hardy in med climate gardens.

trevor n
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