Future Titan Arums
The Chicago Botanic Garden has had a bonus year in terms of Titan Arums. Titan Arums, if you aren't familiar, are the giant blooming plants that emits a carrion smell to attract pollinators. It takes years for one to get to the flower stage, and then it opens for about a day. Three plants have put up "buds" or spathes over the past year.
The first of the Titan Arums, Spike, put up its spathe, and there was a ton of publicity around it. but it never opened up. A month or so later, it was announced (nearly at the last minute), that another Titan Arum, Alice, was opening up. Lots of people lined up to see and smell this rare wonder. I sat at home and watched the webcam, as I didn't want to deal with the crowd. Or the stench.
Just a little over a week ago, Sprout blossomed. To say that the folks at the CBG are giddy over this is an understatement.
These are berries from Alice. She was pollinated by hand with pollen from Spike and another Titan Arum from another botanic garden. Her berries have been on display at the greenhouse at various times since January, but the angle previously was not great for photos. This time, she was displayed in the center of the room, so lots of chances for different angles.
Future Titan Arums
The Chicago Botanic Garden has had a bonus year in terms of Titan Arums. Titan Arums, if you aren't familiar, are the giant blooming plants that emits a carrion smell to attract pollinators. It takes years for one to get to the flower stage, and then it opens for about a day. Three plants have put up "buds" or spathes over the past year.
The first of the Titan Arums, Spike, put up its spathe, and there was a ton of publicity around it. but it never opened up. A month or so later, it was announced (nearly at the last minute), that another Titan Arum, Alice, was opening up. Lots of people lined up to see and smell this rare wonder. I sat at home and watched the webcam, as I didn't want to deal with the crowd. Or the stench.
Just a little over a week ago, Sprout blossomed. To say that the folks at the CBG are giddy over this is an understatement.
These are berries from Alice. She was pollinated by hand with pollen from Spike and another Titan Arum from another botanic garden. Her berries have been on display at the greenhouse at various times since January, but the angle previously was not great for photos. This time, she was displayed in the center of the room, so lots of chances for different angles.