Friday, June 26, 2009

Amorphophallus titanum

The pungent smelling Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the Titan arum, the world's largest flower, is tended to by Science and Collections co-ordinator Kath King at Kew Gardens, London, in this May 2, 2002 file photo. A plant like this one is now starting to bloom at Leiden University’s botanical garden in The Netherlands. University staff expect another plant from the same batch of seeds planted in 1998 may also bloom in coming weeks, which they hope to be able to cross-pollinate.
photo: Canada.com

It's nearly six feet tall and smells like a rotting corpse, and it's blooming in Leiden University's Botanical garden. It's the first time the plant has bloomed since it was planted 11 years ago. The plant smells of rotting flesh in order to attract the beetles that will pollinate it.

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on Friday, June 26, 2009

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