The Corpse Flower
It's a huge, rare flower called Titan arum, also known as a corpse flower. That name comes from the putrid stench that the flower gives off, which smells like rotting flesh, in order to attract the insects that it needs for pollination. Carrion beetles and flesh flies are its natural pollinators in the wild.
Native to Sumatran rain forests, these plants are endangered, and most remaining plants are cultivated in gardens around the world. This one is currently on display at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, Illinois, and is one of 18 corpse flowers that are housed there.
At about 6 feet tall when this shot was taken, the plant is currently in bloom. They typically bloom every three to four years. That huge bud in the center, called a spadex, grows about 5 to 6 inches per day for about two weeks. Then the flower structure around the bottom, called the spathe, opens up and the plant blasts its foul smelling odor for several hours to attract pollinators.
The Chicago Botanic Garden works with other gardens around the country to facilitate cross pollination. Pollen is exchanged with other gardens that also house these plants. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that the rectangular shape that is cut out near the bottom of the spathe is to facilitate the cross pollination effort.
The Corpse Flower
It's a huge, rare flower called Titan arum, also known as a corpse flower. That name comes from the putrid stench that the flower gives off, which smells like rotting flesh, in order to attract the insects that it needs for pollination. Carrion beetles and flesh flies are its natural pollinators in the wild.
Native to Sumatran rain forests, these plants are endangered, and most remaining plants are cultivated in gardens around the world. This one is currently on display at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, Illinois, and is one of 18 corpse flowers that are housed there.
At about 6 feet tall when this shot was taken, the plant is currently in bloom. They typically bloom every three to four years. That huge bud in the center, called a spadex, grows about 5 to 6 inches per day for about two weeks. Then the flower structure around the bottom, called the spathe, opens up and the plant blasts its foul smelling odor for several hours to attract pollinators.
The Chicago Botanic Garden works with other gardens around the country to facilitate cross pollination. Pollen is exchanged with other gardens that also house these plants. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that the rectangular shape that is cut out near the bottom of the spathe is to facilitate the cross pollination effort.