Sauromatum is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of flowering plants in the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Araceae

Araceae

Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...

. The genus contains only two species that are endemic to tropical Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Their inflorescence

Inflorescence

An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...

s last for only a few hours to a day and give off an unpleasant smell. The inflorescence disperses its odor by heating up.

All spp of Sauromatum have now been grouped into Typhonium

Typhonium

Typhonium is a genus in the Araceae family endemic to tropical Asia, the South Pacific, and Australia. It consists of approximately 50 species that are typically found growing in wooded areas.-Selected species:*Typhonium acetosella...

. DNA tests have shown that Sauromatum is actually Typhonium.