Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanium Becc.) is an endemic plant from Sumatra, Indonesia, known as the plant with the biggest flowers in the world. Indonesian people call titan arum as corpse flower or bunga bangkai (bunga means flower, while bangkai means corpse or cadaver; for the same reason, the same title is also attributed to Rafflesia which, like the titan arum, also grows in the rainforests of Sumatra). This plant called the corpse flower because the flowers smell like rotting carcass. The smell is meant to attract beetles and flies as pollinators. People often mistake and couldn’t distinguish between titan arum and Rafflesia arnoldii, probably because both of them have got gigantic size.
Titan arum is now spread in various places in the world, especially in botanical gardens. Titan arum at Cibodas Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Cibodas), Indonesia, has previously bloomed twice in 2004 and 2007. This year, it’s predicted that the flower will re-bloom in May 2011.
This flower usually grows in the open and relatively oblique space with much sunlight. This flower grows in loose and fertile soil with good aeration. Titan arum at Cibodas Botanical Garden was taken from Kerinci Seblat National Park in 2000 at the altitude of 680 meters above sea level.
Titan arum has three growth phases, vegetative (leafy), generative (flowering), and dormant (resting). This flower usually blooms once every four years. That’s why this flower’s blossom becomes a special moment that will always be awaited and attract attention from visitors.
Source:
Picture - Original picture here.
Post - Kompas.com, April 28, 2011, en.wikipedia.org, id.wikipedia.org
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