While some flowers are beloved for their fragrance, Amorphophallus titanum, otherwise known as the corpse plant or titan arum, is famous for smelling like rotting meat. This pungent plant species, native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, can be found growing in the Conservatory’s main greenhouse. Aside from its iconic stench, the titan arum has developed an array of other key adaptations necessary for it to survive.
During the early stages of its life cycle, a leaf grows from the corm, or underground stem, of the corpse plant. Although it does resemble a small tree, this growth is indeed a singular leaf composed of a tall petiole and a divided leaf blade. This leaf will grow, die, and grow again until the plant has stored enough energy in its corm to grow other structures.
The “flower” is technically an inflorescence which is a collection of many small flowers. The flowers are located at the base of the spadix which is wrapped with what may look like large, purple petals, but is actually a special type of leaf called a spathe. The titan arum boasts the largest unbranched inflorescence of any plant in the world, and it can grow to be over 12 feet tall. It can take ten years to store enough energy to produce an inflorescence, and they typically only bloom for 24-48 hours. Since this process also uses up a lot of energy, it may be several years until the plant blooms again, making their flowerings highly anticipated events.
The titan arum’s signature stench is excellent at attracting flies and carrion beetles, which normally deposit their offspring on the flesh of dead animals. As it begins to bloom, the plant also slowly starts heating up. The inflorescence can produce temperatures of up to 37ºC, or 99ºF, which helps carry the plant’s odor up to half a mile away. Both this warmth and the titan arum’s deep red color work to trick insects into thinking that the flower is a carcass. The plant is even careful to time when it releases its smelliest scents for when the insects are active. These adaptations are crucial for the titan arum to attract as many pollinators as it can during the short period of time it blooms. The female flowers are active first, during peak stench. As the scent fades the next day, the female flowers lose receptivity, and the male flowers become viable and release pollen. This ensures the plant will be cross-pollinated.
The Conservatory received seed of the titan arum in 1995 and Ted the Titan successfully bloomed in 2003, shortly followed by Tabatha. Clones of Ted and Tabatha have been made by leaf propagation which has allowed the collection to blossom to many specimens. Today the Conservatory has over 10 specimens of Amorphophallus titanum, as well as over 15 other Amorphophallus species.