The massive leaf emerges fast.
First year it flowered, it was well over one meter high.
Two years
after, it measured 192 cm
Above and
below: First year, over one meter tall.
It is said the massive tuber
will die, when the fruits are ripen.
This is a crowd-pleaser! It
is even raining. 15-20.000 is said to have seen it live the
first year it flowered in Copenhagen.
After four days, it have
closed up again.
Two ears after, it is almost
twice as high - but look the same.
 |
| Author: | Odoardo
Beccari, 1879 |
| Family: |
ARACEAE |
| Origin: |
Indonesia;
Sumatra |
| Soil: |
Rich Peat |
| Water:
|
Maximum |
| Sun: |
Minimum - Medium |
| Thickness: |
100 Centimetres |
| Height: |
6 Metres |
| Flower:
|
Green / Maroon |
| Propagate: |
Seeds/Leaf
Cuttings |
| Names:
|
Corpse
Flower; Titan Arum |
| Synonyms: |
Conophallus titanum, Odoardo Beccari, 1878.
Amorphophallus selebicus Nakai, 1948. |
This member of the Araceae
family was given this name by Odoardo Beccari in 1879. It is found in the edges
of the Sumatran jungle in Indonesia, growing in a rich soil with
plenty of water and little to some sun. The bulb can weight up
to 50 or even 100 kilos, measuring up to one meter in diameter. The
single leaf can reach a height of six metres.
When the plant mature -
bulb is said to have to exceed 50 centimetres - it first grow its
huge inflorescent, which can reach three metres in height. When it
dies back, the leaf emerges, reaching up to six metres in height and
five across. And it still have time for four months or dormancy!
The genera name from ancient
Greek amorphos, 'without form, misshapen' and phallos,
'penis',
referring to the shape of the prominent spadix. The species name; titan
means 'giant' after the ancient Greek goods; Titans.
It is - along with some
others: "The largest flower in the world". Actually, it is the
largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. The largest single
flower is found on Rafflesia arnoldii, while the largest
branched inflorescence belongs to the Talipot palm, Corypha
umbraculifera. Anyway; this species share the distinct odour
with related species: Rotting meat!
Might not be considered
a caudiciforms: The giant bulb does not appreciate to be exposed,
and the roots emerges on its top. |
The leaf seen from underneath.
The massive stalk for it. Up to six
metres high.
First year: One meter bud. No sent
yet. Adding 7-10 centimetres a day! 
Seen from above.
 
Deep in the funnel, the female
flowers are revealed first. 
A massive odour fill the house for
nine hours only.
After a week, the unfertilized
inflorescence shrinks. 
The fruits.
In the wild, the plant can't
self-pollinate: The female flowers occurs first. However, the
pollen
can be frozen down and used on the next inflorescence.
These have been frozen to -196C, and they are alive. |
