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Re: Name that Plant

How big is this inflorescence?  If it's 1 - 1 1/2 feet long, it might be
Dracunculus vulgaris.  The leaf is not exactly palmate; it comes up and
splits, with the leaflets arranged in a circle.  The inflorescence smells
pretty foul for a while. It reproduces by seed and by offsets, and can
spread moderately quickly. It occurs wild in the Balkans and Turkey.

It could also be one of the Arisaemas, but most of them are not as likely
to be quick spreaders.  There are several with true palmate leaves
elongated/attenuated spathes.

You might check the home page of the International Aroid Society:

http://www.mobot.org/IAS/

They have lots of images and you will likely find your plant there.  If
you do, be sure and let us know, because it sounds great. :)

bob




 Bob Beer   bbeer@u.washington.edu  http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bbeer
------------------------------------------------------------------------  
 Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand:     | Edna St.   
 Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand! | Vincent Millay

On Thu, 27 Mar 1997, Avril Tolley wrote:

>      My sister brought me a picture of a plant in her yard to identify, but 
>      I couldn't.  I'm hoping someone on this list can; it seems like 
>      something medit-planters might grow.
>      
>      The inflorescence is like a calla lily (Zantedeschia).  The exterior 
>      of the sheath is pale green, and the sheath is *very* elongated, 
>      ending in a point.  The interior is a dark purple or maroon, and there 
>      is a very thick, pronounced mid-rib.  The edge of the sheath is 
>      rippled.  The leaves, however, are unlike the callas and arums that I 
>      know.  They are palmately divided.  I couldn't tell from the picture 
>      how many leaflets, but more than five.  The leaflets have cut edges, 
>      like a staghorn fern or whatever it is.  It's a most bizarre looking 
>      plant.
>      
>      Anyway, she says this thing is coming up all over.  Last year was the 
>      first year she saw it, and it has spread.  She lives in Las Vegas, 
>      Nevada, which gets extremes of heat and cold (it even snowed this 
>      year), but she has created a great deal of shade and has a good drip 
>      watering system.  The soil is very alkaline, although she's been 
>      amending it for several years.
>      
>      Would very much appreciate help.  TIA
>      
>      Avril Tolley
>
References:
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