Arum dioscoridis

Description

Arum dioscoridis is a plant of the arum family (Araceae). The plant was described by James Edward Smith in Flora Graeca. The species is named after the ancient Greek physician and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides. The plant is native to forests in the east of the Mediterranean in southern Turkey, Cyprus, and the Middle East. In winter appear green, arrow-shaped leaves. In spring, the short-stalked inflorescence appears consisting of a black, rod-shaped spadix surrounded by a yellow-green, purple-mottled brown or even purple bract (spathe). The female flowers are located at the bottom of the spadix; above are the male flowers; and the top is a sterile area (appendix). The spadix emits a pungent smell that attracts flies as pollinators.