Helicodiceros muscivorus

Helicodiceros muscivorus
Dead horse arum lily
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Areae
Genus: Helicodiceros
Species: H. muscivorus
Binomial name
Helicodiceros muscivorus
Engl.

Helicodiceros muscivorus (Dead horse arum lily; syn. Helicodiceros crinitus [1], Dracunculus crinitus [2]) is an ornamental plant native to the northwestern Mediterranean region. It reproduces the stench of rotting meat, attracting carrion-seeking blowflies which act as pollinators.

One of a rare group of thermogenic plants, the Dead Horse Arum can raise its temperature by thermogenesis. This helps to lure flies into the plant to contact its pollen.[3]

Inflorescence close-up

References

  1. ^ H. muscivorus at International Plant Names Index
  2. ^ D. crinitus at Lemaire, Charles. Flore des serres et des jardins de l’Europe (1849)
  3. ^ Angioy AM, Stensmyr MC, Urru I, Puliafito M, Collu I, Hansson BS (February 2004). "Function of the heater: the dead horse arum revisited". Proc. Biol. Sci. 271 (Suppl 3): S13–5. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2003.0111. PMC 1809992. PMID 15101405. http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=15101405. 

External links


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