Any Keen Gardeners Here

[drsmurto]

I know very little about gardening. I like growing things i can eat or put in beer.

This plant comes up every year and has never flowered. I was going to dig it out and get rid of it but this year after the wettest winter and start to spring in the 4 winters i have been here it has flowered.

I just spent the last 2 hours scouring the internet trying to identify it for no other reason than i want to know what it is.

Anyone know?

The stem is up to 1 metre and 4-5cm in diameter.

 

[rotten]

Got no idea Drsmurto, however I have a gardening friend who knows all there is to know about plants who I can ask on your behalf. One of those who quotes scientific names of your plants, not the common name. :huh:
Also not on line so may take a day or two

 

[raven19]

:icon_offtopic: Stem looks like a spotted dick. Add the purple head (flower) and this thread could get ugly... :lol:

 

[Newbiebrewer]

possibly some kind of tropical lily? do you remember where you got it from?

 

[Bizier]

Bona fide triffid mate. No question.

 

[Bizier]

Jokes aside brother, I'd keep an eye on it.

 

[brettprevans]

Send the pic into Gardening Australia and see what they say.

 

[Pennywise]

Is that a tounge?

 

[drsmurto]

First time i saw the flower it was out of the corner of my eye and it freaked me out a little. Does look like a tongue.

I didn't plant them (they have been coming up late winter/early spring since we bought the place), they are in 2 spots in the garden with a total of something like 25 stems. More are appearing each year.

Ah well, will get in touch with the ABC and Gardening Australia and see if they can tell me.

Apologies for the BribieG random OT post

 

[Pennywise]

Do you know if they're bulb's? I spose you wouldn't if you haven't dug one up? We (well our sister company) sell alot of bulbs to bunnings so i'll see if I can get one of the boy's on that side of the pond to identify it

 

[brettprevans]

i think more worrying is that your pot think its needs to wear a boot in the garden!

seriously, it kinds loks like something ive seen before, but im not plant expert so I could be completely wrong. My grandmother would probably know, but she aint exactly computer literate.

 

[drsmurto]

The pot in a boot is in my neighbours yard.

There are several things they do they leave me scratching my head :lol:

 

[kirem]

I think boston is a gardener..

 

[drsmurto]

I think boston is a gardener..

Isn't he is a wanabe-winemaker

 

[kirem]

Isn't he is a wanabe-winemaker

aren't they all?

 

[Pennywise]

Its called Voodoo Magic DrSmurto, this is what I got back from my contact:


There's a bit of Voodoo at our house right now. Specifically, the Voodoo Lily out by the pond is blooming.

It's scientifically known as Dracunculus vulgaris (aka Arum dracunculus). Some of the common names are Dragon Arum, Ragons, Snake Lily, Black Arum, Black Dragon, Dragonwort, & Stink Lily. In Greece it is called Drakondia, with the dragon being the long spadex inside the enormous maroon-lipped spathe.

There is also at least one plant nursery that has dubbed it "The Viagra Lily" for obvious reasons.

When we first moved here, there was a whole colony of these plants on the hillside above the spring feeding our pond. Unfortunately, when the guys dug out the pond we lost a lot of them. It will take a while for the colony to rebuild. The plant spreads by tubers underground, and spreading seeds above ground.

It's an interesting plant. Way up there on the cool-o-meter! Not only is it funky looking, but it's a thermogenic plant! The first day or so it's in bloom, the flower produces heat. I suppose that's to help carry the stink. Yeah, for a short period the plant also rates high on the yuck-o-meter.

Edit: and there was a pic attatched but for some reason I cant get it off gmail, but it's the same as your pic anyway, well nearly, he didn't go to your place and take it

edit edit: Pic

 

[white.grant]

Try this

DRACUNCULUS VULGARIS (Dragon Arum) Araceae
Tuberous perennial from rocky Mediterranean areas. Attractive large , divided and spotted leaves. Foul smelling large maroon-purple flowers in spring / summer.

cheers

Grant

 

[Silo Ted]

Well done Pennywise & GrantW for the ID.

The "Arum" used in the common name is not scientifically related to what I thought of when looking at the original pic, as far as I know, but :icon_offtopic: has anyone seen the Titan Arum ? A triffid if ever there was one

 

[drsmurto]

Cheers for the ID Grant and Pennywise.

The striking beauty of this plant can be a little shocking: like many Araceae the mature inflorescence spreads a nauseous dungy rotten meaty odor. The nasty smell of rotting meat is designed to attract flies for pollination. Fortunately the smell usually lasts for only one day.

That would explain the smell on the weekend. Wasn't sure what it was or where it was coming from but it smelt like a drop toilet combined with a dead roo :blink:

If the smell continued i was going to call out the poor bastards who work with sewerage.

 

[Newbiebrewer]

Well done Pennywise & GrantW for the ID.

The "Arum" used in the common name is not scientifically related to what I thought of when looking at the original pic, as far as I know, but :icon_offtopic: has anyone seen the Titan Arum ? A triffid if ever there was one

is that known also as a raffesia?