Sauromatum is a tuberous genus in the Araceae family with species from tropical Africa to subtropical Asia. This genus is sometimes included in the genus Typhonium. The species most often grown is Sauromatum venosum or the Voodoo Lily.
Sauromatum venosum from the Himalaya and southern India has a twisted yellow to brown spathe that is spotted with deep red or purple internally and with a long-protruding, tapering, greenish or maroon spadix. This plant is dormant in winter and flowers in early spring. First photo by Bob Rutemoeller of one blooming in the Alpine House at Wisley Gardens in the United Kingdom in May 2004, remaining photos by David Pilling of a two year old seedling - notice the contractile roots in the last one. Many offsets are produced.
The following two photos from Jim McKenney show two phases in the life of this plant. The first shows dry corms which will sprout and bloom Colchicum-like without being planted in soil. When I was a kid, the 5&10 cent stores received small crates of these during the winter for sale as curiosities. The next photo, taken June 9, 2005, shows the plants in the garden. This species is hardy here in zone 7 Maryland. The inflorescence is interesting and even beautiful, especially in groups, but the stench is awful. Unlike some aroids which smell like carrion, this one emits a pervasive reek of rat feces. The name I've used in the file name, Sauromatum guttatum, and the name used above, S. venosum, are synonyms.
