Dracunculus vulgaris Schott

Stout, spotted-sheathed, erect, tuberous perennial herb to 1 m high. Leaves dissected; laminae bright green, fan-shaped, ± 20 × 30 cm, with bow-shaped base curving out on either side of petiole, remainder cut into 11–15 lanceolate segments, central one much broader than laterals with scattered narrow-linear white marks; petioles green, c. 20 cm long, leathery; sheaths to 70 cm long, conspicuously streaked and spotted with red, black, green and brown markings. Scape thick, green, not spotted, c. 50 cm long. Spathe c. 45 × 15 cm, green on outside, deep reddish-purple on inside, margin purple, ruffled, tube green inside with vertical purple lines. Spadix ± = spathe, red-purple to very dark purple almost black, basal female zone c. 1.5 cm long, male zone c. 1.5 cm long, sometimes topped by a few sterile flowers or purple papillae; terminal sterile appendage ± 40 cm long, tapering, stipitate. Berries scarlet.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]

Flowering: Dec.