Dracontium
Dracontium is a genus of flowering plants similar to those of Amorphophallus. Unlike Amorphophallus which is found in the Old World, this genus has a New World distribution and is native to South America, Central America, southern Mexico, and the West Indies.
Dracontium species can be distinguished from related genera by their inflorescence, which is smaller and unisexual. The plant has a large caudexlike tuber similar to that of Amorphophallus, but rounder, and with no central and circular scar mark. When Dracontium plants begin to flower, the tuber swells and smoothens.
Species
More than 20 Dracontium species have been described:Dracontium amazonense G.H.Zhu & Croat - Venezuela, Peru, northwestern BrazilDracontium angustispathum G.H.Zhu & Croat - Colombia, PeruDracontium asperispathum G.H.Zhu & Croat - Colombia, Peru, EcuadorDracontium asperum K. Koch - Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Windward Islands, Venezuela, Peru, northwestern Brazil, the GuianasDracontium bogneri G.H.Zhu & Croat - BrazilDracontium croatii G.H.Zhu - Carchi and Pichincha Provinces in EcuadorDracontium dubium Kunth - Venezuela, GuyanaDracontium gigas Engl. - Nicaragua, Costa RicaDracontium grandispathum G.H.Zhu & Croat - EcuadorDracontium grayumianum G.H.Zhu & Croat - Panama, ColombiaDracontium guianense G.H.Zhu & Croat - French GuianaDracontium iquitense E.C.Morgan & J.A.Sperling - Loreto region of eastern PeruDracontium longipes Engl. - Peru, Acre State of BrazilDracontium margaretae Bogner - Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, ParaguayDracontium nivosum G.H.Zhu - Pará, MaranhãoDracontium peruvianum G.H.Zhu & Croat - Peru, northwestern BrazilDracontium pittieri Engl. - Costa RicaDracontium plowmanii G.H.Zhu & Croat - PeruDracontium polyphyllum L. - Pará, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela, Peru, Puerto RicoDracontium prancei G.H.Zhu & Croat - Amazonas and Roraima States of northwestern BrazilDracontium purdieanum Engl. - Colombia, VenezuelaDracontium soconuscum Matuda - Chiapas, Costa Rica, PanamaDracontium spruceanum G.H.Zhu - Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, northwestern Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, SurinameDracontium ulei K.Krause - Acre State in western Brazil; Pando region of northern Bolivia