Amorphophallus flowers

                Amorphophallus lambii                                    Amorphophallus prainii

These photos of Amorphophallus illustrates the inflorescence of the plant.  These structures are not technically flowers.  The spadix, which is the center apparatus houses both the male and female flowers of the inflorescence.

The plant typically produces a large stalk, which is termed a "leaf."  The leaf arises from a corm hidden beneath the soil. This leaf varies in coloration from species to species.  When the leaf has finished its growing cycle, the entire leaf collapses and withers away.  During the next growing cycle, usually, but not always, an inflorescence appears.

These plants recently have become popular due to the titanic inflorescence of  Amorphophallus titanum, which has the largest inflorescence in the world. 

To find out more about aroids, please go to the International Aroid Society website.