Amorphophallus titanum

Amorphophallus titanum

This magnificent structure is the inflorescence of the Titan arum, or Amorphophallus titanum.  This structure was just over six feet when it bloomed at Fairchild Tropical Garden (Coral Gables, Florida).  The seeds for this plant were originally collected on an expedition to Sumatra (Indonesia)  by Dr. Jim Symon.  There have been three bloomings of A. titanum  in recent years at Fairchild Tropical Garden.

These flowers (inflorescence) are interesting because they emit a foul odor.  The odor is designed to attract carrion beetles, or other pollinators.  The smell is usually that of rotting flesh.  However, different species emit different odors.  Some odors have a distinct urine smell, while others smell of rotting fruit, and yet one species smells like butyric acid.

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