Tuesday, July 9 update: The flower is continuing to wilt. We’ll leave it on display for the next few days until it fully collapses.
Photo taken: Tuesday, July 9, 2024
This specimen was acquired in 2016 and is cared for in the Conservatory production greenhouse when not in bloom. This is the second time it has produced a bloom at the Conservatory, the first bloom was in July 2020.
When fully opened it will release a stench similar to rotting flesh, which attracts its pollinators of flies and beetles. This bloom will be open only for one to two days before the plant collapses into a dormant state. It will be several years before the titan arum flowers again.
While the stunningly smelly corpse plants are becoming more popular, this particular species of amorphophallus is particularly unique because of its size. Its bloom is considered the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world.
The Amorphophallus titanum is endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is native only to the Sumatran rainforests in Indonesia, where its population is currently decreasing. It is uncommon even in cultivation, as it is difficult to care for due to a variety of reasons — one being the size. In its vegetative (non-flowering) state, it can reach up to 20 feet tall. It is also infamous for being finicky and unpredictable, and can quickly succumb to rot. Cultivation also requires a lot of patience, as this plant will cycle through many vegetative states before flowering — a process that can sometimes take up to a decade. Reproducing the plant poses even more challenges, as it does not self-pollinate.
