Arisarum vulgare is known by many names including dragontea menor, the little dracontium. The dragontea mayor or big dracontium is
Dracunculus vulgaris, whose botanical name means common little dragon. So Arisarum is the little little dragon and they are all very small. Other names for
Arisarum vulgare are candilicos (candlesticks) and frailecillos (little friars, also used of the seabirds called puffins).
The arisarums of Andalucia include a range of intermediate forms between
Arisarum vulgare and
Arisarum simorrhinum (the specific name means snub-nosed)
. Arisarum comes from the ancient Greek ἀρίσαρον used by Dioscorides, perhaps of this plant.
More pictures after the break.
