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Monster flower for Christmas

GardenDrum

GardenDrum

December 20, 2012
David Robbins at Melb RBG measures the titan arum - photo Januzs Molinski, courtesy of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

David Robbins measures the titan arum – photo Januzs Molinski, courtesy of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

8 centimetres overnight! That’s how fast the huge flower on the Titan arum is growing at Melbourne’s RBG. Currently topping 150cm, it’s expected to flower on Christmas Eve or Day.

The titan arum - photo Januzs Molinski, courtesy of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

The titan arum – photo Januzs Molinski, courtesy of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

The Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanium), also known as Corpse Flower or Bunga Bangkai, is the world’s largest unbranched inflorescence (cluster of flowers), and will feature a stunning display of small flowers around its base. Currently growing at the rapid rate of 10+ centimetres per day, it is estimated that the plant will reach between 2-3 metres in height.

Usually pollinated by flies or beetles, the flowers of this giant aroid also give off a powerful fragrance upon opening – a smell much like a rotting corpse. You can find this monster flower at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens in the Tropical Glasshouse, open from 10am-4pm.

 

 

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Lois
Lois
11 years ago

I would liked to have seen this amazing flower but when I saw the queue waiting to get into the greenhouse on TV decided it might be dead before I got there so was wonderful to read about it on Garden Drum.
Thankyou.

Brian Kent - Hughes
Brian Kent - Hughes
11 years ago

The display at the Botanic Gardens of the Titan Arum was impressive.
My request is are there other photos available of the flowering sequence.
I would like a series of photos of the event from bulb to flowering and subsequent demise