Biarum is a genus of the Araceae family, spread in the Mediterranean basin to the Middle East. For more information about this genus consult the 
International Aroid Society.
Biarum carduchorum photographed on June 2, 2006 by Jim McKenney in his zone 7 Montgomery County, Maryland garden.
Biarum carratracense - Photo by Jane McGary.
Biarum davisii is native to Crete and southwestern Turkey, in rocky, well-drained sites. It flowers in late summer to early fall. The inflorescence appears at ground level and is prettier than many in this genus, being white to cream with pink flecks, and about 4 inches high. In cultivation it requires a hot, dry summer dormancy and protection from excess wet and freezing in winter, though it will tolerate temperatures down to about 25 degrees F. It often fails to bloom and being crowded in the pot is recommended, although the plants shown are flowering just 2 months after being separated and repotted. Like most Biarum species, it makes numerous offsets, which can be removed in midsummer. Photographed in a bulb frame by Jane McGary
Biarum davisii ssp. marmarisense native to SW Turkey. This plant flowering in a pot, October 2004, 3 weeks after purchasing by mail-order. The flower is <3" (7cms) high, and is said to be fragrant. Photo by Brian Whyer
Biarum dispar from the Iberian Peninsula and Sardinia. This specimen has a spadix about 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall. Grown in an unheated bulb frame, not completely dried out in summer.
Biarum pyrami is native to Turkey and Iran. This plant was grown from seed purchased from the Czech company Euroseeds, sown in 1997, germinated 1999, and here flowering for the first time in October 2003. The spadix is about 15 cm tall; for scale, the plant is in a 15-cm diameter (6-inch) pot. Grown in a bulb frame, dry in summer. The photo labeled JMW was taken in the Peloponnese, Greece, in late October 2006. It shows one of a colony of plants growing on a dry, sunny bank in bare soil with a little scrub. The inflorescence on some of the wild plants was much larger than seen in cultivation, suggesting that a wide, deep root run will be beneficial for cultivated specimens. Photo by Jane McGary
Biarum tenuifolium is a small plant, virtually impossible to see. Its leaves are pretty similar to many common weeds and the flower is mimetic, being the same colour of surrounding soil. Only its 'unique' scent reveals its presence!
Photos taken in habitat in Apulia-Italy by Angelo Porcelli
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