Flora of New Zealand Series

Stink Lily

Fig. 13B

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.

N. Auckland - Auckland City, Waharoa; Gisborne - Opotiki. S. Canterbury - Akaroa. Garden escape.

(S. Europe)

First record: ‡

First collection: Akaroa, waste land, H. W. Fawcett, 15.12.1965 (CHR 172774).

FL. 12.

D. vulgaris is normally pollinated by flies and blowflies which are attracted by the "carrion" smell given off from the open spathe. Beetles, Saprinus sp., have also been found within the spathe; "These beetles are generally associated with decaying organic matter, some are recorded from carrion". (K. Somerfield pers. comm.).