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Corpse Flower / Titan arum
Nicknamed: Alice the Amorphophallus
Scientific Name: Amorphophallus titanium
Bloom date: Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Location: Semitropical Greenhouse in the Regenstein Center at Chicago Botanic Garden
This is a month after the much anticipated “Spike” failed to bloom.
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Corpse Flower “Alice” at Chicago Botanic Garden.
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Last month, in August, 2015; one corpse flower came very close to blooming. It was nicknamed as “Spike”. The flower-bud reached the height of about 6 feet [full size of bud is about 6 to 8 feet], and developed the spathe, and was almost about to open-up and release the pungent stench. However, the spathe failed to open and complete the bloom cycle!! The flower bulb [corm] did not have enough energy to open up. On Sunday, August 30, they cut open the spathe and put on display. However, the anticipation of its bloom, created a lot of buzz… and I, like many, was incredibly interested in this rare event, and visited the garden thrice to see Spike, and was kind of upset that it did not bloom. A month later, Tuesday, September 29, 2015.. I get an email from Chicago Botanic Garden.. “Alice the Amorphophallus is blooming”!
Alice is a sibling of Spike. Alice is blooming exactly a month after the much anticipated Spike failed to bloom. Last month, on August 30, when Spike failed to open-up, they had cut its spathe and put it on display. A month later, on September 28, without any anticipation, and much to the astonishment, Alice bloomed. This time, Chicago Botanic Garden decided to keep the expected bloom a secret, till it actually happened. Alice opened on the night of Monday, September 28, at about 11pm. In the morning of Tuesday, September 29, there was an email blast inviting people to see the rare corpse flower, nicknamed “Alice” is blooming! And I was there, by about 3pm. Although, have to say that Alice is much smaller [4.5 feet] than Spike [which was 5.6 feet].. But I am happy I could finally see this extremely rare event in plant kingdom!
Chicago Botanic Garden has been tending to about 8 titan arums since 2003. More can be expected to bloom in coming years.
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ALICE 360 degrees: Above video taken during my visit on Tuesday, September 29, 2015; providing an all round view of Alice.
Fun Facts: Amorphophallus titanium / Titan arum / Corpse Flower:
Why the strange name “Corpse” flower? The blooming of Amorphophallus titanium – also known as Corpse Flower – is a rare event in the plant kingdom. Before I proceed further, let me just clarify why it is called “corpse” flower. The flower rarely blooms, but when they do, the plant produces a strong, pungent odor to attract pollinators. The stinky smell is likened to that of corpse, so the name corpse flower. Is corpse flower, really a flower? Answer is NO! Technically Amorphophallus titanium is NOT a flower. Rather, it’s an inflorescence – or cluster of flowers. In fact, it is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. Interestingly, the largest single flower on earth is Rafflesia arnoldi – also from the rainforests of Sumatra – and is also called the Corpse Flower. Where are the cluster of flowers located? The structure of titan arum consists of a tall spadix [flower structure] wrapped by a spathe [a frilly leaf]. The spadix rises from a corm [a type of underground tuber or bulb that can weigh more than 100 pounds]. The true flowers [about 750 female and 450 to 5,000 male] are located in two rings at the bottom of the spadix.
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Cluster of flowers at the base of spadix / Ring of red flowers are female flowers and white are male flowers
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Some other fun facts about Amorphophallus titanium: Extremely slow to grow: Takes about 8 to 10 years before the first bloom. Extremely fast to flower: Takes about 2 weeks for the flower bud to mature. Once it opens, the full bloom cycle is very short – only one to two days. The bloom typically opens between mid-afternoon and late evening and remains open all night. Most flowers begin to wilt within 12 hours, but some have been known to remain open for 24 to 48 hours. Extreme stench: The smell has been variously described as that of rotting flesh, rancid meat, rotting animal carcass, old dirty socks, and even the smell of death itself, which accounts for the plant’s common name, the corpse flower. Natural pollinators: Dung beetles, flesh flies and other carnivorous insects. Natural Habitat: Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, which is its only natural habitat. The Science behind the stink, color and temperature, was explained by floriculturist Tim Pollak, in an interview by Alina Bradford of Live Science.. [Corpse Flower: Facts About the Smelly Plant]..click here.. There is a good reason for the plant’s strong odor. “It all comes down to science,” said Tim Pollak, outdoor floriculturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “The smell, color and even temperature of corpse flowers are meant to attract pollinators and help ensure the continuation of the species.” The dung beetles, flesh flies and other carnivorous insects are the primary pollinators of this type of flower. These insects typically eat dead flesh. The smell and the dark burgundy color of the corpse flower are meant to imitate a dead animal to attract these insects. Corpse flowers are also able to warm up to 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.7 Celsius) to further fool the insects,” Pollak told Live Science. “The insects think the flower may be food, fly inside, realize there is nothing to eat, and fly off with pollen on their legs. This process ensures the ongoing pollination of the species. Once the flower has bloomed and pollination is complete, the flower collapses.” For more on Amorphophallus titanium / Corpse Flower.. click here..
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Corpse flower “Alice” at Chicago Botanic Garden
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Corpse flower “Alice”/ Incision made to artificially pollinate the flower
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The above image shows a clear incision [surgical cut] made in the flower. This is to artificially pollinate the flower. The flower is native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, and its natural pollinators are dung beetles, flesh flies and other carnivorous insects. Since natural pollination not possible under controlled breeding of plants in a conservatory, so they are artificially pollinated by pollens collected from other plants. Alice was pollinated using pollen from “Spike”, and another titan arum nicknamed “Stinky” from the Denver Botanic Gardens. The video below, produced by Chicago Botanic Garden shows the process.
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Corpse flower Alice / Dr. Shannon Still wields a paintbrush laden with pollen, brushing it lightly on the female flowers on the spadix..
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Corpse flower “Alice the Amorphophallus”, biologist Dr. Shannon Still, public puppet “Titan Taylor”, and puppeteer Ross Gerbasi at Chicago Botanic Garden.
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There was also a public puppet named “Titan Taylor”, which was made when there were chances of Garden’s first titan arum, “Spike” to bloom in August. I am not too sure if Titan Taylor made public appearance when Spike failed to bloom.. But I did see it with puppeteer Ross Gerbasi when “Alice” bloomed. For more on the story of “Titan Taylor”, click on the post on website of Chicago Botanic Garden click here..
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Corpse flower “Alice the Amorphophallus”, public puppet “Titan Taylor”, and puppeteer Ross Gerbasi.
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Selfie with corpse flower “Alice” at Chicago Botanic Garden.
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Published by Jyoti Srivastava Image copyright © Jyoti Srivastava
RELATED LINKS:
So what is this Amorphophallus titanium – Corpse Flower – everyone is talking about? .. click here....
Chicago Botanic Garden: Story of the rare corpse flower named “Spike”.. click here....
Selfie with corpse flower “Alice”.. click here..
Selfie with corpse flower “Spike”.. click here....
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