Dracunculus is a genus of two 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.
The best known species is Dracunculus vulgaris, which is sometimes grown in gardens for ornamental purposes.
Turkey, Algeria, southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria); naturalized in scattered locations in the United States
References
^ abGovaerts, 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.
^The RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, p379, Ed., Christopher Brickell, 1996, Dorling Kindersly, London. ISBN0-7513-0436-0
^Dobignard, D. & Chatelain, C. (2010). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 1: 1-455. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
