Sauromatum Venosum Life Cycle

One of my favourite of the Hardy Aroid the mighty Sauromatum venosum.

I'm going to follow just one tuber (Rupert!) for 1 year and see how he gets on as he grows an inflorescence, his leaves and then I'm hoping he will set seed for us.

This species emerges from a tuber and develops into an inflorescence with a purple spadix and a yellowish spathe speckled with big purple dots. The inflorescence grows before the green leaf emerges. Its 9–11 leaflets, each measuring up to 40 centimetres, are borne atop a towering petiole. Mature flowers give off a smell that has been called "putrid" and likened to decaying meat. Insects like flies are drawn to the smell and help pollinate the plant. This plant produces heat on its own, just like certain other aroids.

Click on the image below to watch my YouTube video.