NYBG received its first titan-arum from Sumatra in 1932. The plant must be watered and fertilized copiously. The hot and humid conditions in the greenhouse mimic the natural conditions of Sumatra. This titan-arum has been nurtured in the warm tropical zone of the Nolen Greenhouses. This scent, along with the deep-red, meaty color of the open spathe, attracts insect pollinators that feed on dead animals. Amorphophallus titanum is often called corpse flower because when it blooms, it emits a powerful stench similar to that of rotting meat. You may recognize the structure’s resemblance to calla-lily, anthurium, and jack-in-the-pulpit, which are all relatives in the arum family, Araceae. When the plant is ready to bloom, the spathe unfurls, exposing the flowers inside. The spadix is wrapped in a frilly, modified leaf called a spathe. The fleshy central spike, called a spadix, bears small flowers in rings around its base. Its enormous flower spike is the largest unbranched inflorescence (flower structure) in the Plant Kingdom. Titan-arum or corpse flower ( Amorphophallus titanum) is native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. During full bloom, the spadix self-heats to approximately human body temperature, which helps disseminate odor particles. The spathe begins to open, revealing the red-purple color inside, and completely unfurls over the course of about 36 hours. Two leaves at the base of the spathe shrivel and fall off.

By June 19, 2019, the bud was 44 inches tall. In the beginning of the bloom cycle, a titan-arum grows four to six inches each day. Horticulturists noticed that a three-inch-tall flower bud had formed on Saturday, May 15.

Haupt Conservatory! Titan-arums take years to form flower buds, but when they finally do, the flowers mature very quickly.

There is now an Amorphophallus titanum preparing to bloom in the Enid A. Each plant takes seven years or more to store enough energy to bloom for the first time. Titan-arum blooms are rare and unpredictable.

Marcus arnold theatre