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Dead Horse Lily Wikimedia Commons
Araceae

Dead Horse Lily

Helicodiceros muscivorus

Deception and survival.

Family
Araceae
Genus
Helicodiceros
Native to
Corsica, Sardinia, Balearic Islands
Bloom season
Spring, Early Summer
Type
Perennial
Height
30-60 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, rocky
Water
Low to moderate
Hardiness
8-10
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • The spathe emits a powerful rotting flesh odor to attract blowflies for pollination.
  • The appendix of the flower can generate heat up to 15 degrees Celsius above ambient temperature to spread the scent.
  • It is the only species in its genus, making it a monotypic genus.
  • The hairy interior of the spathe traps flies overnight to ensure thorough pollination.
  • Dead horse lily grows naturally on rocky coastal cliffs near seabird colonies in the Mediterranean.

Color meanings

0

Cunning

1

Adaptation

2

Dark beauty

Uses

  • Botanical curiosity
  • Specialist collection
  • Educational