Corpse Flower - Giant Stinky Flower from Sumatra

Another giant flower known by the public beside Rafflesia Arnoldii is corpse flower / Titan Arum (Amorphpophallus titanium). This species is endemic only grow in the Sumatra forest area.

Different from Rafflesia, titan arum corpse flower is creamy on the outside and on the rise. Meanwhile, purplish red crown. Current Overview looks like blooming trumpet flower. When the Rafflesia is only widening, corpse flower grow vertically. Corpse flower Amorphophallus titanium species can reach about 4 m in height with a diameter of 1.5 m.

Corpse Flower Titan arum
These corpse flower including Araceae plants. It is a plant with greatest flowers in the world. Unlike the Rafflesia cannot grow in other areas, corpse flower can be cultivated at botanical gardens. When Rafflesia becomes parasite in plant propagation, corpse flower grow on their own roots.

This corpse flower has two phases in his life that appeared alternately and continuously, i.e. vegetative and generative phase. In the vegetative phase, above the bulb will appear single stem and leaf glance similar to the papaya tree. The tree could reach 6 m in height. After several years, the generative organs will wither unless the tuber. If the environment support and tubers qualify this tree will be replaced with the growth of corpse flowers. The growth of the flower that replaces the withered tree is a generative phase of this plant.

New flowers can grow when the tuber has at least 4 kg weight. When the food reserves in the tuber less or not reached of 4 kg weight, the withered tree would be replaced by new trees.

In addition, the corpse flower is the married one and photogene plant, where the female flowers receptive first, then followed by male flowers cook, as a mechanism to prevent self-pollination. The stink from corpse flower, such as the Rafflesia, serves to attract beetles and flies for flowers pollinators. After the flowering period (approximately 7 days) passes, corpse flowers will wilt. In addition, going back through the cycle, returning to the vegetative phase, this will grow new trees on the former corpse flower bulbs.

When corpse flower flowering occurs during fertilization, it will form a red colored fruit with seeds on the former base of the flower. These seeds can be plant tree in the vegetative phase. These seeds are now cultivated and becomes collection at houston  museum of natural science.



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