Dracontinum gigas ranges from central Nicaragua, along the Atlantic slope to central Costa Rica. It occurs in tropical moist forest and premontane forest life zones. With the flower comes the characteristic smell of rotten flesh that attracts flies.
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 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.
