Archipelago Wildlife Library

Dracunculus vulgaris is a robust herbaceous plant that belongs to the family of Araceae.  This family also contains species from the genus Arum, Biarums and Arisarum.  D. vulgaris can reach almost one meter in height.  Its’ leaves are a deep green often with white streaks and they are lanceolate to oblong in shape.  The leaf margins are often wavy.  The thick stem is pale green with purple splotches.  The flowers are small, both male and female, and they form spandix clusters that are encircled by a tall spathe (A large bract-like organ that partially or fully envelops the flower).  This spathe is a rich reddish purple in colour with a greenish outside ⁽¹⁾.

When a Dracunculus vulgaris has matured and is ready to pollinate it opens fully and produces a pungent aroma that is used to attract insects into the trap like spathe.  This aroma predominantly attracts beetles and flies who consume carrion and the smell has been likened to that of a cadaver (dead body).  The beetles fall into the spathe and once inside they are unable able to get out until the flower has finished pollinating.  During the beetles attempt to escape they are covered in pollen, when they are finally released they go on to pollinate other individuals ⁽²⁾.