Sauromatum venosum

Sauromatum venosum or Thyphonium venosum, sometimes called Arum cornu or Voodoo Lily, is a curious bulbous plant that will delight collectors of unusual plants. Its large, elongated cone-shaped flower, heavily marbled with crimson red on a light background, emerges from the ground in spring. It emits an unpleasant scent intended to attract pollinating flies for a few hours. After flowering, a single palmate leaf, carried by a long, wide, and decorative petiole, emerges from the ground. During its rest period, from October to March, the stump of this arum must be protected from humidity and severe frost. It should not lack water during the growth and flowering period, between March and September.

Sauromatum venosum belongs to the Araceae family, and is closely related to the white arum. It is a botanical species found on shady cliffs and in cool Indian Himalayan woodlands. Its hardiness is evaluated at -10 °C in a well-drained soil that does not retain water, under a thick layer of dead leaves. The plant is perennial through its tuberous root. Flowering occurs in spring, from April to June depending on the climate. Each tuber produces a flower that blooms at ground level. The inflorescence is an oblong, lanceolate spathe, measuring 30 to 70cm (12 to 28in) in length, yellowish to greenish-white, marbled with crimson purple, surrounding a prominent, upright purple spadix, longer than the spathe. This flowering emits noxious odours reminiscent of rotting meat for a few hours. After pollination by flies, numerous small blackish-purple berries form at the base of the spadix. The flowering is followed by the appearance of a large lush foliage, resembling an open hand, measuring 40 to 60cm (16 to 24in) in diameter. Each leaf is carried by a beautiful cylindrical stem, apple green with purple streaks, measuring 60 to 80cm (24 to 32in) in height. The lamina is divided into 9 to 11 lanceolate, shiny leaflets, traversed by prominent veins. The plant is toxic in all its parts.

Plant Sauromatum venosum in partial shade, in a cool woodland environment that it favors. It will accompany bamboos (Fargesia), hostas and other ferns. You can also grow it in a pot to display its unique beauty on a terrace and protect it from cold and damp winter weather. This will allow you to move it away for a day or two when its scent becomes overpowering, and to bring it indoors in winter to a cool, even dark, place where it does not freeze too severely. Fans of original Araceae plants can also adopt a Dracunculus vulgaris or a Sauromatum giganteum or Typhonium.