Biarum eximium (Schott & Kotschy) Engl.

Tuber dorsoventrally compressed-discoid, 3–7 × 2–3 cm, rarely with sets. Leaves hysteranthous, long-petiolate, bases encased by several 5–7 cm × 7.5–12 mm lanceolate-elliptic cataphylls, these pale greenish white, occasionally purple-spotted apically, drying dark straw-yellow; petiole 5–11 cm × 4–6 mm, mid-green, adaxial surface broadly channeled distally, expanded into a narrow membranous wing proximally, leaf lamina elliptic, 10–12.5 × 3–3.5 cm, apex sub-acute, base decurrent, c. 9 primary lateral veins per side, margins smooth, mid-green. Inflorescence appearing in autumn, strongly foetid; peduncle 1–3 cm × 3–5 mm, off white, encased by several 2–4 cm × 5–9 mm wide smooth pale straw-yellow cataphylls. Spathe 9–13 cm long; spathe tube cylindrical, 4–4.5 cm long, c. 2 cm wide, moderately inflated, margins connate for c. ½ their length, exterior green with much purple staining and spotting distally; interior white, stained purple proximally; spathe limb broadly elliptic, 8–11 × 3.75– 5 cm wide, rounded distally, exterior green with numerous irregular purple spots, interior deep brown-purple. Spadix slightly shorter than the spathe limb, 9–10.5 cm long; spadix appendix fusiform, 7–7.5 cm × 5–7 mm, purple,sometimes slightly paler than the spathe limb. Staminate flowers in a zone 12–14 mm × 4–5 mm wide, purple; Interstice 25 mm long, c. 4 mm wide, purple. Staminodes distributed ± evenly over the entire length of the interstice, filaments c. 5 mm long, purple. Pistillate flowers in a hemispherical cluster, c. 10 mm × 3 mm tall; ovaries oblong, c. 2 mm × 0.7 mm, cream below, purple above, style c. 1 – 1.5 mm long, purple, stigma capitate, purplish grey. Infructescence a globose cluster of c. 40 pyriform berries 2.5–3 cm in diam.; berries c. 5 × 8 mm, dull white ± stained purple; seeds ovoid, c. 4–5 mm in diam., mid-brown, testa reticulate. 2n = 16 ( Marchant 1972 ).