Amorphophallus rivierii

Amorphophallus rivierii is a synonym of Amorphophallus konjac, an East Asian species (China, Japan, Southeast Asia) of the family Araceae. It is a geophyte with a large globose tuber up to 30 cm across, producing a single, highly divided leaf each year, borne on a petiole mottled dark green and white, about 1 m tall, unfurling an umbrella-like blade up to 2 m across. Before the leaf appears, a spectacular inflorescence emerges in spring: a wavy, dark purple spathe surrounding a long conical spadix, giving off a fetid smell that attracts pollinating flies. Cultivated for konjac production, it requires rich, well-drained soil and partial shade, with frost-free winter dormancy.