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Dracunculus vulgaris

Common Dracunculus · Dragon Arum · Dragon Lily

Family AraceaeGenus Dracunculus

A large dark maroon funnel-shaped spathe wrapped round a long black spike, above divided leaves
FlowerOrchiCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
2-3 ft60-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Red/BurgundyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Corse, East Aegean Is., Greece and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
7-10Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • In Greece the plant is called drakondia, its long spadix seen as a small dragon hiding in the spathe. The flower smells of rotting meat, which draws flies such as Lucilia to pollinate it. Another of its names is vampire lily. Wikipedia: Dracunculus vulgaris

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1/6 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1/6 germinated in this phase.

  7. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1/6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 35 days.

50% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Dracunculus p. 31Public domain
Show the original text
Dracunculus (Araceae). D. vulgaris germ. 70D(1/6 in 11th w)-40(3/6 in 5th w)-70D-40-70D-40(1/6 in 8th w)-70D(1/6 on 2nd d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Dracunculus p. 31. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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