On this page
- Plant description
- Plant uses
- Did you know?
- Where in the world?
- Find it in our gardens
- Our work
- More about this plant
Titan arum is one of the smelliest plants on Earth.
Nicknamed the corpse flower, it has an incredibly foul smell of rotten flesh when in bloom.
This nauseating odour is produced to attract pollinators that love to feed and breed on flesh.
Titan arum only grows in the rainforests of Sumatra, but it is endangered in the wild due to deforestation and land degradation.
Botanic gardens, like Kew, play a huge role in conserving this precious plant species.
Titan arum’s unpredictable and rare blooms attract thousands of visitors hoping to experience the magnificent sight and disgusting stench.
Titan arum flowered for the first time outside its native Sumatra here at Kew in 1889.
Plant description
Titan arum’s flowers are very small and group into a massive flowering structure called an inflorescence. Its inflorescence consists of an inner flower spike, known as a spadix. The spadix is surrounded by a large petal-like collar called a spathe which is green to cream on the outside and deep burgundy on the inside, with a deeply grooved texture. The flowers are at the base of the spadix and both male and female flowers grow in the same inflorescence. Pollinated female flowers produce bright red and orange spherical fruits. After flowering, the inflorescence dies back and a single, tree-like leaf emerges. The leaf stalk is speckled with white patches and has three branches at the top, each with many large leaflets.A large underground tuber stores the food produced by the leaf in photosynthesis and provides the energy for the massive inflorescence to grow.
Read the scientific profile on titan arum
Plant uses
Cultural
Titan arum is used in ornamental displays and is an incredibly popular visitor attraction at botanic gardens.
Did you know?
Titan arum has the world’s largest unbranched inflorescence (flowering structure) that can reach 3m tall.
When titan arum bloomed for the second time at Kew in 1926, it attracted such big crowds that the police were called to control them.
When in bloom, titan arum’s flower spike (spadix) produces heat. This helps the smell travel and can attract pollinators from up to half a mile away.
Titan arum’s inflorescence has a dark red to purple interior which resembles a piece of meat and adds to the allure for flesh-loving pollinators.
Titan arum only emits its foul odour for a single evening when in bloom.
Where in the world?
Native: Sumatra
Habitat:
Tropical lowland rainforest on steep limestone hills at 120 — 365m above sea level.
Titan arum
Native
Introduced
Extinct
Find it in our gardens
Kew Gardens
A botanic garden in southwest London with the world’s most diverse living plant collection.
Location
Behind the scenes at Kew's Tropical Nursery and sometimes on display in thePrincess of Wales Conservatory.
Best time to see
Flowers: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Our work
Titan arum is under threat in its natural habitat due to land degradation and deforestation.
Large areas of its forest habitat are logged for timber and to make room for oil palm plantations.
Botanic gardens play an important role in theex situconservation of this endangered plant through efforts to better understand its biology and horticultural requirements.
Here at Kew, we have found the optimum conditions to grow titan arum is in moist, humus-rich soil in warm temperatures around 22°C, at about 75% humidity.
Plants are grown in the shade and kept dry when dormant and watered when a new leaf/inflorescence begins to appear. They are fertilised regularly during the growing season.
Scientists at Kew have conducted investigations into the rancid smells produced by Amorphophallus species.
They found that the major components in these odours are the sulphur-containing compounds dimethyldisulphide and dimethyltrisulphide.
Understanding the chemical compounds behind the odours could provide clues to the pollinators of titan arum. This largely remains a mystery, but carrion beetles are likely candidates.
More about this plant
I'm an enthusiast with a profound knowledge of botany, particularly in the realm of exotic and unique plant species. My expertise spans various plant uses, conservation efforts, and the intricate details of plant biology. Let me delve into the concepts presented in the article about the Titan arum, also known as the corpse flower.
Plant Description: The Titan arum, or Amorphophallus titanium, is a fascinating plant native to the rainforests of Sumatra. Its most notable feature is its massive flowering structure, known as an inflorescence. The inflorescence consists of an inner flower spike called a spadix, surrounded by a petal-like collar called a spathe. The flowers are located at the base of the spadix, with both male and female flowers growing in the same inflorescence. After flowering, a tree-like leaf emerges, supported by an underground tuber that stores food produced through photosynthesis.
Plant Uses: Culturally, the Titan arum is utilized in ornamental displays and is a popular attraction at botanic gardens worldwide. It serves as a significant visitor attraction due to its unique characteristics.
Did You Know?:
- The Titan arum boasts the world's largest unbranched inflorescence, reaching up to 3 meters tall.
- When in bloom, its flower spike produces heat, aiding the dispersion of its foul odor to attract pollinators from considerable distances.
- The inflorescence has a dark red to purple interior, resembling meat, which appeals to flesh-loving pollinators.
- The foul odor is emitted for only a single evening during blooming.
Where in the World?: The Titan arum is native to Sumatra, specifically in tropical lowland rainforests on steep limestone hills at altitudes ranging from 120 to 365 meters above sea level.
Find it in Our Gardens: Botanic gardens, such as Kew Gardens in southwest London, play a crucial role in conserving this endangered species. Kew Gardens provides optimal conditions for the growth of Titan arum, including moist, humus-rich soil, warm temperatures, and controlled humidity. The plant is featured in displays at locations like the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
Our Work: The Titan arum faces threats in its natural habitat due to land degradation and deforestation. Botanic gardens contribute to the conservation of this endangered plant through ex situ efforts, aiming to understand its biology and horticultural requirements. At Kew, scientists have investigated the odors produced by Amorphophallus species, revealing sulphur-containing compounds like dimethyldisulphide and dimethyltrisulphide. These findings might provide clues to the plant's pollinators, with carrion beetles being likely candidates.
More about this Plant: For additional information on the Titan arum, you can explore resources such as Kew Science: Plants of the World Online, the IUCN Red List for Amorphophallus titanium, and iNaturalist observations of this intriguing plant species.
