ARUM PALAESTINUM
Paul Tyerman (Tue, 10 Jun 2003 06:58:57 PDT)
On the subject of odour Boyce says " A palaestinum typically
produces a smell similar to fermenting fruit, which is actually
quite pleasant. On the other hand A dioscoridis smalls strongly of
donkey-dung." He then goes on to report that some populations are
scentless and others have been reported smelling weakly of dung
and carrion !!!
Rob,
Can't say I have been that familiar with donkey-excrement, but I'll take
your word for it. I was told originally that is smelt like a dead
possum..... which I think was pretty accurate for mine when they flowered.
The worst I've ever smelt though was Typhonium brownii on the evening it
opened. I SWEAR that the air itself was melting at the smell of it <grin>.
Two open flowers on dioscoridis or a Dracunculus bloom did not stand near
it on smell (obviously these all flowered at different times so I was
running on memory for comparison), or at least not the one that flowered
for me last year. We had it in a pot right outside the back patio sliding
door and I didn't even realise it had opened.... I came around the corner
of the house and up the stairs to the back verandah and it hit me square in
teh face. Needless to say I moved it quite rapidly AWAY from the back door
of the house. Supposedly Helicodicerus muscivorus is dreadful as well, but
mine that has flowered for me twice was unscented as far as I could tell...
neither good nor bad, and that was both years so maybe I was lucky and got
a smell-less one (I think the Typhonium brownii more than made up for
it!!!!!!)
Good luck Arnold with sorting out what your plant is or confirming it is
palaestinum. Hopefully between us all we can sort it out.
Cheers.
Paul Tyerman
Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9
mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au
Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus,
Cyrtanthus, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything
else that doesn't move!!!!!