Jana's Index

Nature

I took this picture of wild ginger along the Napo River in the Peruvian Amazon. This part of my webpage is dedicated to my love and pursuit of nature.

In June of 2003, hundreds of people (including me!) made the pilgrimage to the UC Davis Greenhouse to see (and smell!) the famous corpse flower which was in full bloom - a rare event & wonderful opportunity indeed!

From high atop a step stool, we had the opportunity to inhale the putrid (often described as resembling a rotting corpse) odor which is so attractive to the pollinators of this plant.

To learn more, read below.

The following information is taken from a handout written and provided to the visitors by UC Davis conservatory curator, Ernesto Sandoval, who also led the marvelous tours.

THE CORPSE FLOWER

Amorphophallus titanum: meaning shapeless phallus, people call it a flower, but it is technically an inflorescence (largest unbranched inflorescence in the world).

This particular inflorescence was planted at the UC Davis Nursery in February 1995. It began its bloom on June 11, 2003 and finished on June 16, 2003. The life cycle of the corpse flower consist of two parts. It mostly stays underground as a stem called a corm (not corN!), and then once a year, it puts forth a green stem which lasts up to 6 months. It blooms only 2 to 3 times during its 40 (possible) year life span. The female and male flowers are separate. The female parts bloom first followed by the male parts. A cherry sized fruit is produced which holds up to 2 seeds. When not flowering, a single compound leaf is produced which lives for 1 year.

The corpse flower was first discovered by an Italian botanist named Odardo Beccari in Sumatra in 1878. It was first cultivated in 1889 at England's Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. This particular one is native to the Island of Sumatra in the Indonesian Rain Forrest.

The reason behind its awful smell, or should I say - pungent smell, is to attract insect pollinators. These tiny creatures can smell the stench from miles away. The main insect that the odor attracts is thought to be the carrion beetle.

Common Names: Corpse Flower, Titan arum, Bunga bangkai, Devil Tongue, and Penis Plant.

Above article by: UC Davis conservatory curator: Ernesto Sandoval
Sources: whyflies.org/shorties/080corpseflower, www.sacbee.com,
www.davisdenterprise.com, www.news.ucdavis.edu, www.news.wisc.edu, and a link from previous web site: www.news.wisc.edu/titanrum/facts.html

 

Your questions, comments and suggestions are welcome. E-mail Jana Shober

Web page created by: Jana Shober
Web page design by: Jason Ryan