Helicodiceros muscivorus (L. fil.) Engl.

Spice Spadix In the field

Family: ARACEAE

Genus: Helicodiceros

Sinònims: Dracunculus muscivorus (L.f.) Parl

Catalan common name: Escandalosa. Orella de porc. Rapa mosquera. Rapa pudenta.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Rocky coastlines.

Characteristics: This is one of the most spectacular plant species of our flora because of the unlikely shape of its inflorescence. The flowers are authentic traps for hunting (but not killing) flies, because they act as pollinators; for the same motive its smell is unpleasant, reminiscent of rotten meat. When in flower it is unmistakable, because the other arums have an erect inflorescence without hairs, whereas this has a drooping, reddish inflorescence covered in rigid, black hairs.