Get to know Amorphophallus titanum
If you’re new to houseplants and confused deciding your first plant, we will explain gigantic and amazing species called Amorphophallus titanum. Let’s dive into the Aroid world and get to know Amorphophallus titanum, known as the largest corpse flower from Sumatera, Indonesia.
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimation of fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild. IUCN estimates the population has declined more than 50% over the past 150 years. The main reasons for the decline are logging and the conversion of the plant’s native forest habitat to oil palm plantations.
What’s Amorphophallus Titanum?
Amorphophallus titanum or corpse flower is a native Indonesian flora originating from tropical rain forests in Sumatra. The distribution is most abundant in the equatorial region, namely Bengkulu and Lampung. This plant is infamous due of its giant size and only grows on the island of Sumatra, so it is said to be a native endemic plant of Sumatra. This rare flora was discovered by Dr. Odoardo Beccar, a researcher from Italy in 1878. He found Amorphophallus titanum around the Anai Valley waterfall, West Sumatra.
Amorphophallus titanum is used as an ornamental plant because of its unique shape and is able to attract the attention of many visitors. In addition, as research material for scientists in the world. Another benefit that can be taken from this plant is the use of its tubers as food. However, the processing takes a long time because the tubers have a sap that causes itching. The tubers are beneficial because of their glucomannan content. Glucomannan has uses as a thickening agent, fiber-rich jelly (dietary fibers) and dietary supplements (for anticholesterol, blood sugar neutralization, digestive health, absorption of toxic substances in digestion and weight control agents). It is also used in other traditional medicine.
Why is it called Corpse Flower?
Amorphophallus titanum held a trophy of the gigantic flower on earth. As its name “the corpse flower”. this species had a stinky scent that emerged when the plant is blooming. But fortunately the smell is not very bad, imagine a 5 meters flower blooming a rotten meat scent! Although the smell is not very bad, but it doesn’t mean that the scent is bearable too. The scent that emerges from the flower is not friendly to some noses.
The allure of the corpse flower comes from its great size (it is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom), powerful stink, and fleeting presence. The plants frequently grow up to 8 feet tall in cultivation. Its putrid smell is most potent during peak bloom at night into the early morning. The odor is often compared to the stench of rotting flesh. The inflorescence (a collection of flowers acting as one) also generates heat, which allows the stench to travel further. This combination of heat and smell efficiently lures corpse-attracted pollinators, such as carrion beetles and flies, from across long distances.
The corpse flower does not have an annual blooming cycle. The bloom emerges from, and energy is stored in, a huge underground stem called a “corm.” The plant blooms only when sufficient energy is accumulated, making time between flowering unpredictable, spanning from a few years to more than a decade. It requires very special conditions, including warm day and night temperatures and high humidity, making botanic gardens well suited to support this strange plant outside of its natural range.
Morphology of Amorphophallus titanum
Roots.
Bulbs are rounded slightly flattened, about 65 cm in diameter and about 40 cm high, bulbs can weigh up to 100 kg, have a slightly rough surface and many accessories such as buds, light brown in color, and have no side shoots.
Stems
This species has pseudo-stem that is composed of a leaf midrib that is attached to each other.
Leaves
The petiole of an adult plant can grow up to 3 m in height. There are white circular spots on the petiole. The leaves can last for 9 to 24 months. Leaves on young plants only last 6 months. Leaf blade with a diameter of about 7 m, pinnate ellipse lanceolate, up to 40 cm long, tapered tip, when touched like skin, upper surface green, slightly shiny.
Flowers
This species has a single inflorescence, short flower stalk, about 30 – 70 cm long and about 10-15 cm in diameter, motifs and colors like on the petiole. The inflorescence on the corpse flower is a group of small male and female flowers arranged in the form of grains attached to the cob. The place for the flowers to attach is at the base of the cob. The cob (spadiks) is yellow and surrounded by a purplish-red flower sheath. Spadix height can reach 3 m so that the corpse flower is nicknamed the “Giant Flower”.
The flowers are monoecious, however, male and female flowers do not ripen together. Full blooms (female flowers ripen) at night and emit a carrion smell. The male flowers ripen the next day to produce yellow pollen, so they are naturally difficult to self-pollinate. When pollination of the corpse flower does not occur, the flower will wither as if it were dead. Flowers and stems rot like no trace. The corpse flower does not die, but enters a period of rest or dormancy. Then it grows into a flower phase. The unique thing about this plant is that there are two life phases, namely generative (in the form of flowers) and vegetative (in the form of leaves) which cannot be seen together in one plant. So when it is in the form of leaves it will not flower and when it comes time to flower it will not have leaves.
Fruit
Bright red or dark orange. The shape of the fruit is oval, slightly rounded, which grows in clusters with one seed.
Seeds
Ellipse-shaped reddish orange, and sometimes slightly whitish blue.
Interested with this species?
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