Dracunculus vulgaris Seeds

What phantasmagoric flowers!

Dracunculus vulgaris (aka Arum dracunculus) is variously called the Dragon Arum, Voodoo Lily, Ragons, Snake Lily, Black Arum, Black Dragon, Dragonwort and Stink Lily.

In Greece it is called Drakondia, the dragon or serpent being the long spadex inside the enormous maroon-lipped spathe.

It is native to the Balkans, to Mediterranean Europe, Greece, the isle of Crete & the Aegean Islands, all the way to Southwest Turkey.

In some places it's a veritable weed in its natural settings, albeit a weed of splendid countenance.

Though it looks like it ought to be tropical, it is not and it transfers to the temperate garden with great ease.

The very striking deep purple-black spathe sends upward a shimmering purple-black "jack" which can grow to as long as 125 centimeters, though 30 centimeters length is more likely & still mightily impressive. This black spadix extends from the rather vaginal spathe, leading this aroid to be called "amorphallus" in form.

Fortunately the dungy rotten meaty odor only occurs when the inflorescence is mature & lasts only long enough to attract a few flies, then the plant is satisfied & ceases to stink. Generally the bad odor only lasts one day.