Botanical name: Typhonium trilobatum Family: Araceae (Arum family)
Synonyms: Arum trilobatum, Arum orixense
Bengal Arum is an aroid distributed throughout India. This strange plant has very narrow 3 ft flower heads emerging before leaves in spring, then unfurl into only kind of narrow, with intricate maroon and cream patterning. When the leaves do appear, they're large and compound, similar to Cobra Lily, on a stalk that is light green and black-patterned. It emits a distinctive odour for a few hours when it first blooms, like most arums. Tubers are eaten in some tribal societies and the plant also has various medicinal uses. Flowering: August.
Identification credit: Ratna Ghosh
The flower labeled Bengal Arum is ...