The spadix then starts to self-generate heat, a process known as thermogenesis. On the first day of flowering the spathe (the frilly adapted leaf around the base of the spike, or spadix) unfurls, revealing its blood red inner colouring. Though the Titan Arum has to wait years to flower, when it does it’s over very quickly. It is, however, the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world – the unbranched qualifier is needed as the talipot palm boasts the largest (branched) inflorescence. The Titan Arum loses out because it isn’t a single giant flower, as the flowers themselves form in a small cluster (known as an inflorescence) at the base of the flowering structure’s ‘spike’. This title is actually held by Rafflesia arnoldii, another type of corpse flower. Titan Arum is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the largest flower in the world. Others, on the other hand, can take another 7-10 years – Cambridge’s Botanical Gardens aren’t expecting another flowering event for ten years after this week’s. This doesn’t happen until the plant is at least 7-10 years old after this, it can happen slightly more frequently, with some plants managing to flower every 2-3 years. On rare occasions, this cycle is broken by the emergence of the plant’s flowering structure when the corm has accumulated enough energy. At this stage, for many years its lifecycle will consist of this single leaf growing, then dying away after several months, then a new one growing in its place. What it lacks in numbers of leaves it makes up for in size, as this leaf can reach the height of a small tree, and branches into numerous leaflets which allow the corm to collect energy. ![]() It starts with a seed germinating this seed develops into an underground corm, which pushes out a single leaf. ![]() Native to the rainforests of Sumatra in Indonesia, its lifecycle is a curious and patient one. The explanation lies in the source of the smell: the rare occurrence of a Titan Arum plant flowering.Ī plant flowering might not seem like a particularly special occasion, but the Titan Arum is no ordinary plant. However, the residents of Cambridge, UK, have been flocking to the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens over the past two days to sample this unpleasant sounding aroma for themselves. Usually, you’d want to stay as far away as possible from a smell described variously as like ‘dead rat’, ‘mouldy bath mat’, or ‘cabbages and death’.
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