Dracunculus (plant)

Dracunculus
Dracunculus sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Subfamily:	Aroideae
Tribe:	Areae
Genus:	Dracunculus Mill.
Species
Dracunculus canariensis Dracunculus vulgaris
Synonyms[1]
Anarmodium Schott

Dracunculus is a genus of 3 species of a tuberous perennial of the family Araceae. They are characterised by a large purple spathe and spadix, often produced in advance of the pedate, dark green leaves often with white mottling. The open spathe is usually accompanied by a foul smell.

Dracunculus vulgaris

The best known species is Dracunculus vulgaris, which is sometimes grown in gardens for ornamental purposes.

They are native to the Mediterranean, Madeira and the Canary Islands where they are found in rocky areas, hillsides and waste ground.^{[2][3][1][4][5][6]}

Species

1. Dracunculus canariensis Kunth - Canary Islands, Madeira
2. Dracunculus vulgaris Schott - Turkey, Algeria, southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria); naturalized in scattered locations in the United States

References

1. Govaerts, R. & Frodin, D.G. (2002). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae): 1-560. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
3. The RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, p379, Ed., Christopher Brickell, 1996, Dorling Kindersly, London. ISBN 0-7513-0436-0
4. Dobignard, D. & Chatelain, C. (2010). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 1: 1-455. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
5. Altervista Flora Italiana, Dragonea, Dracunculus vulgaris Schott includes photos plus European and North American distribution maps
6. Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map