Scoliopus bigelovii

Scoliopus bigelovii (fetid adder's tongue) is a rhizomatous perennial in the lily family, endemic to coastal California forests from the Santa Cruz Mountains through the San Francisco Bay Area and into the northern Coast Ranges. It grows in deeply shaded redwood forest, on moist, mossy ground. The purple-mottled leaves lie close to the soil. From January to March it produces small, odd flowers with spreading, pale green, purple-streaked sepals and thread-like petals, giving off a rotting-meat smell that attracts pollinating fungus gnats. It needs dense shade, cool humus-rich soil, and a mild, oceanic climate.