Dracunculus vulgaris

Common Arum ( Dracunculus vulgaris)

The common Arum ( Dracunculus vulgaris ), also called snake root, is a plant in the family of Araceae ( Araceae ). It is one of the largest and during the heyday of very eye-catching European species within the family of Araceae.

In German, it is often understood as Drachenwurz the native Calla Lily.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The common Drachenwurz grows as a perennial herbaceous plant slim to wide and reaches heights of growth from 60 to 120 centimeters. It forms a relatively large, flattened - spherical to disc-shaped tuber as Überdauerungsorgan, with a slightly protruding slightly sunken to the growing point. The arranged in a basal rosette leaves are divided into leaf sheath, petiole and leaf blade. The long leaf sheaths envelop the inflorescence stem. The foot-shaped leaf blade is divided into nine to fifteen sections. This more or less flat sheet sections are elliptic or oblong- lanceolate, wherein the average is greater than the lateral.

Generative features

On a terete inflorescence stem is typical for Arum inflorescence with spathe ( single bract ) and spadix (piston). The relatively large spathe has a wavy edge and an inner dark - purple, outside greenish color. The bottom of the spathe is more or less closed. The open area of the spathe is initially upright, but bends back soon. The upper, flowerless, thickened portion of the piston is colored black and purple, it overlooks the spathe usually. The male and female flowers are separated only by a few sterile flowers. The male flowers contain three to four stamens with short stamens. The oblong to oblong - fusiform ovary are single chamber and contain only a few ovules. The inflorescence emits an intense smell of carrion to attract insects.

The inflorescence contains several to many inverted ovoid berries, which contain few seeds. The globose - ovoid seeds are slightly laterally flattened and edged with wrinkled seed coat ( testa).

Occurrence

The common Arum is native to the eastern Mediterranean and west comes before to Corsica and Sardinia. It is widespread in the Balkans, the Aegean islands, in Crete and in southwestern Turkey. It grows in woods and thickets on rich, moist locations.

The common Drachenwurz is cultivated and wild places.

Pictures

Laubblatt

Inflorescence

Inflorescence

Fruit stand

At the site in Crete

In rocky habitats

Tuber