World's smelliest and largest flower blooms in Brazil

NeverSayGoodBye SG

Hundreds of visitors are flocking daily to a botanical garden in southeastern Brazil to watch the rare blooming of the Titan arum, the world's smelliest and largest tropical flower.

Also known as the "corpse flower" because of a smell likened to rotting flesh, it began blooming on Christmas Day and is already beginning to close, botanist Patricia Oliveira told AFP.

The flower "has a lifespan of 72 hours, during which its stink and meat-coloration attract pollinators: carrion flies and beetles," added Oliveira, who works at the Inhotim garden, about 445 kilometers (275 miles) from Rio de Janeiro, housing the massive flower.

Titan arum, also known by its scientific name, "Amorphophallus titanum," which means misshapen giant penis, is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra. It rarely flowers, is incredibly difficult to cultivate and takes six years to grow.

Thursday, this Brazilian specimen reached 167 centimeters (5 feet 3 inches) in height, but the species can grow up to over three meters (10 feet) tall.

This "is the second time it bloomed. The first time was in December 2010," Oliveira said.

When it flowers, the bloom has the same temperature as that of the human body, which helps spread its pungent smell.

The species was first described in 1878 by Italian natural scientist Odoardo Beccari. Ten years later, it bloomed in a London botanical garden and its next flowering occurred in 1926.

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

huh?

There is something that smelled worse then the Rafflasia?

NeverSayGoodBye SG

huh?

There is something that smelled worse then the Rafflasia?

.....exactly there is, both are huge and stinko. The similarity ends here. The differences:

The flower with the world's largest bloom is the Rafflesia arnoldii. This rare flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It can grow to be 3 feet across and weigh up to 15 pounds! It is a parasitic plant, with no visible leaves, roots, or stem. It attaches itself to a host plant to obtain water and nutrients. When in bloom, the Rafflesia emits a repulsive odor, similar to that of rotting meat. This odor attracts insects that pollinate the plant.

Another enormous flower found in Indonesia is the Amorphophallus titanum, or Titan arum. It is also known as the "corpse flower" for its unpleasant odor. Like the Rafflesia, the Titan emits the smell of rotting flesh to attract pollinators. Technically, the Titan arum is not a single flower. It is a cluster of many tiny flowers, called an inflorescence. The Titan arum has the largest unbranched inflorescence of all flowering plants. The plant can reach heights of 7 to 12 feet and weigh as much as 170 pounds!

Clivebenss SG

Both from Sumatra.

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

Hmmm, I wouldn't want to be wandering lost in sumatra's jungle and mountains...

Kuali Baba SG

Meanwhile, back home in our own Botanic gardens the Talipot palm is in bloom. It's the world largest (branched) inflorescence at 6-8m in height.

NeverSayGoodBye SG

Hmmm, I wouldn't want to be wandering lost in sumatra's jungle and mountains...

.....actually considered yourself VERY lucky if you can find them, they are extremely rare. Find one, took a picture, you're famous!

NeverSayGoodBye SG

Meanwhile, back home in our own Botanic gardens the Talipot palm is in bloom. It's the world largest (branched) inflorescence at 6-8m in height.

.....the flowers stink?

NeverSayGoodBye SG

for those who are interested:

Talipot Palm

Rafflesia

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

.....actually considered yourself VERY lucky if you can find them, they are extremely rare. Find one, took a picture, you're famous!

I dun need to find one...

I most likely can smell 1

Kuali Baba SG

.....the flowers stink?

No mention of the smell anywhere, although I smelled manure in the area.

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

No mention of the smell anywhere, although I smelled manure in the area.

natural fertisilers?

the Bear SG

this grows everywhere in Indonesia.. and in fact, the locals use the stem to make some kind of crackers.. but there is a faint fetid odour to the crackers

charlize SG

Perfect gift for valentine's day ?