Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Leaves and inflorescence stalk arising from corm, erect.
- Leaves
- Usually solitary, compound with 5-15 leaflets; stalk at flowering 8 to 20 inches long, later to 36 inches, green or purplish; leaflets elliptic to nearly lanceolate, 2.8 to 11.2 inches long, .8 to 4 inches wide, central leaflet often shorter than neighbors; tips pointed; gradually tapering to narrow base; primary veins parallel from mid-rib to margins.
- Inflorescence
- Spadix, 2.4 to 8 inches long, long-tapering to slender point, extending beyond enclosing spathe; spathe slender, tubular, 1.2 to 4.8 inches long, .6 to .8 inch wide, green, with bend near middle.
- Flower
- Tiny, crowded on central axis of spadix; staminate flowers above pistillate flowers; staminate flowers with 2-4 stamens.
- Fruit
- Dense clusters of berries; berries fleshy, oblong or pear-shaped, 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, bright red; seeds 1-6, 1/8 to 1/5 inch in diameter. Fruits ripen in October.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Moist deciduous woods, bases of ravines, bottomland woods, moist wooded slopes.
- Distribution
- East 1/2 of Kansas
Practical Information
- Toxicity
- The plant contains microscopic calcium oxalate crystals. When consumed fresh, the corms cause intense burning of the mouth and throat.
- Uses
- Native Americans dried and ground the corms for food. There was a belief that corm bundles would bring supernatural dreams.
Additional Notes
Comments
Latin dracontium "of a dragon" alludes to the tail-like spadix.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Araceae - Arum Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 6-36 inches
- Origin
- Native
- Last Updated
- 2011-05-28
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: May, June